KNYSNA NEWS - DA federal executive chair James Selfe has confirmed that Michelle Wasserman has been selected as the party's mayoral candidate for Knysna.

This means the DA has already chosen a replacement for current mayor Mark Willemse despite the fact the fact that he is appealing a verdict by council's disciplinary committee who found him guilty of misconduct after he voted with the ANC to oust former mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies. One of the sanctions is that he resign.

But Wasserman would not be able to occupy the position until she has a seat in council. When asked who would be requested to step down, Selfe stated that "discussions are being held with councillor Martin Young with a view to his resigning". Young, according to Selfe, has agreed "in principle".

Young, who confirmed that either someone would have to resign or be fired to make place for Wasserman, declined to comment on whether or not he was asked to step down from the Knysna council for this particular reason.

Asked if that meant he would stay firm in his position, Young said, "I have no comment".

Wasserman joined Knysna council when the DA took control of the municipality in 2011. She was later appointed deputy mayor before holding the position of Speaker, and resigned at the end of May 2015.

But exactly when she will be appointed mayor is unclear. Willemse is appealing to the DA's federal executive, and the case is set to be heard in the next couple of weeks after a postponement of the initial date of 21 September. No official date has, however, been confirmed.

Should this appeal fail, Willemse is expected to approach the high court, and the matter could take months or even up to a year to be finalised.

Wasserman could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

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