KNYSNA NEWS - The resignation of the widely respected Ray Barrel after more than ten years as chairperson of the Knysna Municipality's audit committee has left the council divided as to the most suitable candidate to follow in his footsteps.

It was only after a robust to-and-fro about who should step into the position at a special council meeting last Thursday, 28 January, that they were reminded that it was not up to Council to nominate the audit committee chairperson.

Up till this point, council members had jumped in with their opinions as to who would best fill the seat Barrel has vacated. Two names were nominated by the ANC and the DA respectively. ANC Councillor Claudine Croutz recommended that Council appoints Enrico Prins who serves on the audit committee, stating that "he is qualified and is a person of colour."

DA Councillor Luzuko Tyokolo nominated Richard Thorpe, who is also a member of the committee.

Knysna Mayor Elrick van Aswegen supported the appointment of Prins claiming that their objective should be supporting transformation. 

"Prins is a long-serving member of the audit committee. Does the municipality have a transformation policy - and if it has, does it only apply to staff and not the committees?" asked Van Aswegen. He said Council should be careful of the message it is sending to the people who have been disadvantaged by the apartheid government.

ANC Councillor Thando Matika said Prins is young and is an accountant. "When we talk about generation mix we are talking about young people occupying the positions of power," he said. Matika said voting for Thorpe and Prins would cause divisions between the two nominees. 

"Both these people are serving in the audit committee and we don’t want to divide them. Let us use the equity rule," he suggested.

Another ANC councillor, Mandla Matiwane, said Prins was the second person after Barrell in terms of scoring during the previous interviews for the position. "He is competent, young and qualified. We must not turn a blind eye on competency and qualification," he said.

Not up to Council
At this point Acting Municipal Manager Dawie Adonis reminded Council that the audit charter states that the chairperson of the committee is nominated only by the members of the audit committee and approved by Council.

Speaker Mertle Gompo referred the matter back to the audit committee to nominate the chairperson and then bring the matter back to Council.

In his letter of resignation dated 25 January 2021, Barrell resigned as the chairperson of the audit committee with effect from the end of January, but not as a member of the committee. 

"Over the last 15 years I have already served in this capacity for more than ten years and have found that the responsibility has started adversely affecting my health recently. It is time I let another member of the committee perform the function," he said.

Barrell said he has approached Richard Thorpe, "who is willing and able to step into my shoes in this capacity until the term expires. I recommend that Council appoint him accordingly with effect from 1 February 2021".

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