Council recess means wait for gun discussion

Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The issue of firing a gun during a traditional ceremony in Kwanokuthula on Sunday 21 December, allegedly by Bitou deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi, is only expected to be discussed in mid-January by the council.

Bitou Speaker Mavis Busakwe has reacted to the alleged firing of a gun by Kolwapi, saying Bitou council will consider and address the matter “through the appropriate Council processes in accordance with the law and established governance procedures”.

Busakwe indicated that “as the public is aware “the council is in recess” .

The next council meeting is scheduled on 14 January 2026. She said in a statement to the Knysna Plett Herald: “However, once the Council reconvenes, the matter will be considered and addressed through the appropriate Council processes, in accordance with the law and established governance procedures.

“The Council respects the rule of law and will allow due process to take its course,” said Busakwe.

Busakwe said she took “note of and acknowledge the incident that has been reported, as well as the related public inquiries”.

Jump the gun
She did she had since been made aware that a case has been opened by the South African Police Service, and that the matter is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.

DA councillor Bill Nel in an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday 23 December said the council could not “jump the gun and make decisions and do things ahead of time”.

“We've got to follow the processes,” as Busakwe had indicated too. He said local government “is a creature of statute, and we have to stay within that framework”.

He said he knew Kolwapi personally and that she is “a passionate lady, and she is a champion for female rights, and against gender-based violence”.

“We also know that this is an extremely important cultural event in the transition from boyhood to manhood. So it was an emotional period, and I think perhaps emotions got a bit too high, being a passionate kind of person,” he said in the interview.

Asked by Newzroom Afrika whether there was “something to investigate” besides the law enforcement processes unfolding, Nel responded that “nothing could happen which is not guided by regulations and laws”.

“We are in a municipality. We're in a local government. Everything is controlled. So at this stage, I cannot say to you that I'm condemning her, because I don't know.

“The facts are not clear yet. They are under investigation. If, however, those facts become clear, and there is truth to the matter, then there is a process which has to be followed strictly in terms of the law.” He said the process had to be initiated by the Speaker.

Unwise
“The Speaker will then get to call together a committee. That committee will then make recommendations.

“Those recommendations will then go to the the MEC for Local Government of the province, and the sanctions may be anything from temporary suspension to removal from council.

“We don't know, and I don't want to go ahead of myself as far as that's concerned,” said Nel.

Asked by Newzroom Afrika about the political perspective (as Kolwapi, a proportional representation councillor, and her Ikhwezi Political Movement are part of the DA-led coalition in Bitou), Nel responded: “We would say we think it was an unwise thing that took place.

“It was uncalled for, and it's not a good thing that took place. But I cannot give you now any final outcome yet. We don't think it is a wonderful thing.

“We think it was an emotional thing that took place. We think it was a big event, a cultural event. But other than that, if it does come to pass that there is any guilt, action will be taken.”

Bitou Speaker Mavis Busakwe.Photo: Chris van Gass