In the election of 3 August 2016 no party obtained a majority; the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) won three seats each, and the Karoo Ontwikkelings Party (KOP; Karoo Development Party) won the remaining seat. Initially the DA and KOP formed a coalition to govern the municipality, but in March 2017 the KOP broke with the DA and formed a new coalition with the ANC.[1]
In terms of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, in the period from 1–15 September 2004 councillors had the opportunity to cross the floor to a different political party without losing their seats. In the Laingsburg council, one councillor crossed from the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the African National Congress.
The final floor-crossing period occurred on 1–15 September 2007; floor-crossing was subsequently abolished in 2008 by the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution. In the Laingsburg council, the two councillors of the Laingsburg Gemeenskaps Party crossed to the National People's Party.[4]