KNYSNA NEWS – The Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, has given Knysna Municipality a week to respond to a committee investigating alleged Code of Conduct transgressions, otherwise he will initiate legal proceedings.

Bredell's ultimatum follows after the municipality failed to provide requested information to the investigating committee.

The investigation follows critical remarks by a Western Cape High Court judge about the conduct of councillors and officials that was allegedly in breach of the Code of Conduct rules. 

Judge Robert Henney on 25 November last year slammed the "shameless and flagrant conduct" of the ANC coalition leadership in the Knysna Council, the respondents in an urgent application brought by the DA over the payment of eight political appointees.

Bredell appointed the committee to investigate the conduct of councillors in the matter on 30 May.

In response to questions from Knysna-Plett Herald about the progress of the investigation, Bredell said he noted the municipality's failure to comply with the request from the independent investigators to provide information and documentation relevant to the investigation. Bredell has accordingly sent correspondence to the municipality directing them to comply - with a final deadline of 24 July.

"If there is still non-compliance, Minister Bredell will not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings and seek to hold those responsible personally liable for the costs associated therewith," said Bredell's spokesperson, Wouter Kriel, in a statement.

Knysna Municipality

In an earlier statement to KPH, Bredell said the independent committee he established is comprised of an advocate of the Cape Bar, Adv Trisha Sarkas, and an independent forensic investigator, Ms D Viljoen.

The committee has commenced with the investigation and has addressed correspondence to the municipal manager of Knysna "to request information and documentation in the possession of the municipal administration," said Bredell's statement. 

"The committee is independent, impartial, and will at all times conduct the investigation in a lawful and procedurally fair manner. No steps were taken by the speaker or municipal council against the implicated councillors. The committee is required to investigate the allegations and, if applicable, make a recommendation to me as to the appropriate sanction in terms of subitem 16(2) of the Code."

The committee has been mandated to:

• investigate any adverse statements and findings against councillors of the municipality made in the relevant judgment.
• secure, review and analyse all information relevant to these allegations; and
• interview, consult and take statements of the councillors, officials and/or third parties that have knowledge of the allegations being investigated.

Knysna Municipal Manager Ombali Sebola said the municipality had sought legal opinion on the matter which indicated “that it is imperative that the municipality cooperates with the investigating team”. He added that the municipality had not cooperated with the investigating committee up to now as “it was still seeking legal advice, and therefore, could not comply until a legal opinion suggested doing so”. He indicated the municipality would meet Bredell’s deadline of 24 July.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’