A few months before the 2021 local government elections, a residents association commonly known as CE (Cederberg Eerste), was established to participate exclusively in the Cederberg municipal area. After winning 27% of the vote, CE became the majority partner in a coalition with the ANC and DA. Concerned about the negative trajectory of local government, CE decided to do what they could to rescue the Cederberg municipality. Ruben Richards was inaugurated as Executive Mayor in November 2021