KNYSNA NEWS - Former Knysna councillor and ANC candidate Aubrey Tsengwa has been re-elected to the Knysna council - but with his majority drastically cut. The Ward 8 by-election took place yesterday, 25 June.

There was a good showing by PA candidate Magdalena Rosetta Moos, while MKP and EFF are also making inroads into the ANC's support base.

Tsengwa polled 51,5% of the vote, compared with the 73% he polled during the local government elections in 2021.

The PA polled 31,5% of the vote , the EFF 9%, MKP 5,5% and KIM 1,1%.

The combined vote garnered by non-ANC candidates was 47,2%.

Question

The question now is: How long Tsengwa will remain a councillor?

It remains to be seen how he will be treated by Western Cape Minister of Local Government Anton Bredell, who was poised to remove him when Tsengwa pre-empted it by resigning.

The resignation necessitated yesterday's Ward 8 by-election.

Bredell was going to remove Tsengwa, former deputy mayor Alberto Marbi and speaker Mncedisi Skosana, based on recommendations after an investigation he had launched into the conduct of councillors due to the "illegal" hiring and payment of political appointees in the offices of politically elected officials. 

This happened when Tsengwa was still mayor. However, Twengwa and Marbi resigned before they could be removed and Skosana was the only one who ended up being removed by Bredell.

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