KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Independent Movement (Kim) Councillor Susan Campbell submitted a complaint of financial misconduct against Municipal Manager Lulamile Mapholoba to the mayor on 26 October, and the matter served in committee at a council meeting on 7 November. 

When it came to voting on the referral of the complaint, three DA councillors broke ranks and voted against it.

Now questions are being asked why the DA councillors, including chief whip Sharon Sabbagh, broke caucus ranks on the item.

Sabbagh responded to Knysna-Plett Herald's request for comment, saying that an in-committee item may not be discussed out of committee, and said she would be reporting Campbell for "breach of code of conduct of councillors" because she had made the in-committee item public. 

"This was an in committee item. Councillor Campbell has no right to debate this in the public domain," she said.

Alleged financial misconduct
Kim said in a FB statement that the allegations in the complaint submitted by Campbell were detailed and motivated.

“The alleged financial misconduct stems from contravening the MFMA in the management of Tender T 25/2023/2024 Provision of Physical Security, awarded to Dephetogo Trading CC on 30 August 2024. In terms of the relevant regulations, council had a legal duty to refer the complaint to the disciplinary board for a preliminary investigation into whether the allegations were well-founded and to recommend to council whether sufficient grounds existed to warrant a full investigation into the allegations,” said KIM's statement.

Campbell proposed at the meeting that the complaint be referred to the disciplinary board, “whereas councillors Aubrey Tsengwa (ANC), Neil Louw (EFF) and Sharon Sabbagh (DA) argued against referral”, said Kim.

Susan Campbell

The matter was put to a vote and Kim and the DA caucus, excluding councillors Sabbagh, Tyokolo and Van Schalkwyk, voted for referral. 

The Kim statement called this an unprecedented move, pointing out that the three had sided with the same coalition that [their party] the DA “has repeatedly referred to as the ‘Coalition of Corruption’”.

Code of Conduct
Councillor Levael Davis was absent with leave and did not vote.

Councillor Morton Gericke of the PBI left the meeting and logged on virtually, but was too late and missed the vote.

Kim said the conduct of those councillors who defied the regulations and voted to block the preliminary investigation, will be referred to the Speaker and provincial MEC, Anton Bredell, to determine whether they have breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors. It will also report the matter to national and provincial treasury, as well as the Auditor General.

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