KNYSNA NEWS - Charges and counter charges are flying between the Knysna mayor, deputy mayor and acting municipal manager, following an alleged death threat, allegedly made at a meeting at George Airport on 29 October.
Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa has laid counter charges against the acting municipal manager, as has deputy mayor Alberto Marbi, of crimen injuria.
ANC provincial spokesperson Khalid Sayed confirmed that Tsengwa had laid charges, but could not specify what charges were laid against acting municipal manager Setloane Phaahle Simon Malepeng.
It was Malepeng's email about the airport meeting, sent to Knysna council speaker Mncedisi Skosana, that first aired the allegation that Tsengwa and Marbi had sought his resignation "with immediate effect". Malepeng claimed he was told that if he did not agree to this, "my life will be at risk including a death threat".
Sought protection
He said various accusations were made against him during the airport meeting "including accusations relating to Grey Elephant Investment and that I am colluding with the DA to put them under the bus".
Malepeng has also sought protection from the police.
Both Tsengwa and Marbi have denied the allegations.
Sergeant Christopher Spies, police media liaison officer for the Southern Cape, said in response to a query by the Knysna-Plett Herald, that "the matter cited in your enquiry is a subject of an ongoing police probe and identities of individuals involved cannot be divulged at this stage".
Another twist
"Kindly be advised that SAPS protection provided to individuals is of a classified nature and not something that is discussed in the public domain, but rather directly with the party concerned," said Spies.
In another twist Grey Elephant Investments Pty Ltd (GEI) said in a paid advertisement in the Knysna-Plett Herald it was "shocked and dismayed" by a DA "newsletter" linking GEI to alleged death threats against Malepeng.
Under the headline "Politics is Destroying Knysna", GEI said "these insinuations are beyond serious and unacceptable".
'Political power struggle'
"The smearing of GEI in what is manifestly an ugly political power struggle has zero foundation and GEI refutes these suggestions in the strongest possible terms.
"GEI is helmed by honest, reputable and successful business leaders with impeccable records who run exceptional, award-winning shopping centres and businesses throughout South Africa.
"GEI assures all its customers, tenants and Knysnarians that it acts lawfully and ethically in all its dealings.
"In the rates dispute GEI was unlawfully and incorrectly overcharged for municipal services for years," said the advert.
Knysna constituency head for the DA, Ryan Smith, noted "with deep concern" the allegations and said: "As the DA, we trust that the SAPS will conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations."
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