Knysna budget passed despite objections

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The ANC-led coalition in the Knysna Council has forged ahead and approved Knysna Municipality's 2023/24 MTREF budget, in spite of thousands of objections questioning large rates and tariff increases.

DA Whip and Ward 9 Councillor Sharon Sabbagh said in a media statement released this Tuesday, 6 June, that only comments from 919 objections/written submissions were reflected in the 'Budget Comments' annexure to last week's council meeting agenda, while thousands more were received.

Sabbagh said she was reviewing all the budget documents and 'preparing a report to challenge this budget'.

"I am appalled at the arrogance of the Coalition of Corruption, led by the Executive Mayor, Aubrey Tsengwa, in their stance taken by pushing ahead and approving the budget," said Sabbagh.

The council meeting agenda inclusive of all supplementary agendas and annexures consisted of about 1 500 pages with 1 012 pages devoted to the budget.

Sabbagh said some of the supplementary agendas were only circulated to councillors at about 17:00 the day before (Tuesday 30 May) the council meeting held on Wednesday 31 May.

Protestors outside the Knysna Municipality building, objecting to the budget.

"Opposition councillors were not afforded a fair and reasonable time to apply their minds, consider the budget, deliberate amongst ourselves and provide the oversight we are expected to do by our constituents," she said.

She added that a councillor's budget workshop on 25 May did not adequately address the budget holistically and the ward line items, in terms of expenditure per ward, were not provided "despite undertakings by the municipal manager and the acting chief financial officer".

The main objections referred to the excessive rates residents are going to be charged, according to Sabbagh.

"Even with the reduction in the residential base rate by 10% on the proposed 23/24 tariff, my property rates have now increased by 38%. Many property owners will probably suffer increases of 20% upwards, with the bulk of property owners facing an increase of in excess of 80% to 250%," Sabbagh said.

Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa addresses protestors outside the municipal building.

"This displays a complete disregard of and disrespect to the residents of this town. They did so without considering all the written submissions received, of which thousands were submitted by the [extended] deadline of 19 May.

"This included a petition from the Smutsville informal area, which garnered at least 262 objections against the budget and the other petition spearheaded by myself and residents of Knysna, which when handed over by residents to the Executive Mayor at the council meeting totalled 4 769 signatures."

Knysna Municipality had not responded to questions from KPH at the time of going to print.

Protestors outside the municipal building their discontent with the budget.