KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna's Municipal Council is full again for the first time in eight months, following the DA's emergence as victors in last week's two by-elections in wards 9 and 10.
The two council seats had to be filled following the dismissal of Mark Willemse from the DA in March, and Peter Myers' resignation from the DA in July.
Two important wards in that they cover many of the town's economic and tourism hotspots, its residents would have been itching to have representation in council again.
After eight months of no by-elections due to Covid-19 protocols, they were given this chance on Wednesday 11 November with polls open from 07:00 to 21:00.
Voters in Ward 9 could vote at the Vineyard Fellowship, Cearn Hall, and Brackenhill New Born Ministries, and with a voter turnout of 49,94% (1 580 / 3 164 voters) between the stations,
DA candidate Sharon Sabbagh won with 1 195 (76,07%) of the votes. Independent candidate Mark Willemse was second with 367 (23,36%) of the votes, and EFF candidate Japhta Meyer third with nine (0,57%) votes. There was a total of nine spoilt ballots.
Sabbagh said she is thankful for the support shown. "It was a really tough campaign, and it is most humbling to have the voters come out and pledge their support, I am very appreciative," she said, adding that she will be focusing on the ward and the town first and foremost.
"I have no intentions of climbing the political ladder. My attention will solely be the improving of my ward."
In Ward 10, voters were distributed between the Town Hall and Knysna Bowling Club. In a voter turnout of 38,3% (1 476 / 3 854) between the two stations, DA candidate Peter Bester won with 1 001 (67,86%) of the votes.
Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) candidate Susan Campbell was second with 324 (21,97%), VF Plus candidate Jackie du Toit came third with 146 (9,9%) votes, and EFF candidate Magdalena Brouwers was fourth with four (0,27%) votes.
Ward 9 Councillor Sharon Sabbagh. Photo: Blake Linder
Although Bester is glad he won, he is well aware of what lies in wait. "There is a huge task ahead of me. Both fortunately and unfortunately it will take a team effort to fix what needs to be fixed," he said, acknowledging that there is "lots of stuff" on his priority list. "But, first and foremost, will be the cleaning up of the area, making it safe. We need to get holidaymakers back so that we can help businesses get up and running again."
The DA now occupies 10 of the 21 seats in Council, the ANC has 8, ACDP 1, KUC 1 and Cope 1.
• The DA announced on Tuesday that the party had a pre-election deal with the ACDP that if the DA won both wards, the two parties would form a coalition in the Knysna Council in order to take control. The deal was sunk because the DA did not include an ACDP councillor on the mayoral committee in the Tshwane Metro Council. Dr Dion George, DA constituency head for Knysna, accused the ACDP of sacrificing the people of Knysna to further the personal ambitions of their councillor in Tshwane.
The leader of the ACDP in the Western Cape, Ferlon Christians, told journalist Ilse Schoonraad that the DA is not a reliable coalition partner as it does not stick to agreements. "The DA's statement is dishonest. The ACDP and the DA had an agreement which the DA did not keep. The ACDP will vote for what is right for Knysna from the opposition benches and will not pander to a party [the DA] that acts with impunity."
He said the DA has only itself to blame for the instability in Knysna as it got rid of two of its own councillors, including former mayor Mark Willemse.
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