Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell and his team met with Knysna Council's top administration on Friday 8 August - two days before an investigative feature probing Knysna's affairs was aired by Carte Blanche on Sunday.

He also met with other interested parties, including the DA and public interest group The Accountability Group (TAG).

On Sunday 10 August, Carte Blanche said it investigated how Knysna, a Garden Route gem, "became one of South Africa's cautionary tales".

Following up on a previous programme in February, Carte Blanche concluded that it appears things have only gotten worse.

Service delivery woes
Following Bredell's visit and the Carte Blanche episode, the question of administration or no administration by the Western Cape Provincial Government is again on everyone's lips.

Bredell is now expected to finalise a response to his Intention to Intervene in Knysna – and if he leans towards administration, he will take the matter to the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet for ratification.

Bredell told Carte Blanche that provincial authorities have worked with Knysna for several years, spending money (R50m) and time with few results.

"It's not a resource problem," said Bredell. "It's a management and a leadership problem."

The only way to solve the problem is to get a team of experts to tackle the problems and solve them - and administration is the last resort for a situation that is not improving enough.

Time
Knysna Mayor Thando Matika said: "Give us time. We are dealing with it", stating the ANC-led coalition had brought back financial stability for the town.

The Knysna Infrastructure Group's
Eugene Vermaak is opposed to administration, as is the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM).

Susan Campbell, KIM councillor, said former mayor Aubrey Tsengwa, who was removed in a motion of no confidence in February, was a huge factor in the dysfunctionality of the municipality.

Susan Campbell

She said the council is far more stable now and there are positive signs.

"We all need the town to succeed for our tourism and everybody in it. The new mayor wants to be given the time to make a difference," said Campbell.

Shift change
Tsengwa told Carte Blanche, via his lawyer, that the allegations against him were misplaced and since his re-election as a councillor in a by-election in June, his focus has remained on his constituents.

Aubrey Tsengwa

While not interviewed on Carte Blanche, the DA Knysna Chief Whip, Sharon Sabbagh, has been relentless in her exposure of the infrastructure failings and the breakdown of service delivery since 2018, rallying support from residents to inform provincial authorities of how service delivery woes affect them personally.

"Now is the time to make a shift-change," said Sabbagh.

ALSO READ: Carte Blanche digs into Knysna woes

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