KNYSNA NEWS – Four properties valued at just under R5m that are at the centre of an ownership dispute between the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and Knysna Municipality, have been put up for sale by the GRDM, despite pending fraud charges relating to the properties.
The Knysna Independent Movement (Kim) said in a statement released on Tuesday 11 April that the indicted GRDM municipal manager, Monde Stratu, has advertised the intention of the GRDM to sell the golf driving range property and three Belvidere properties, part of a dispute that resulted in charges being laid against him.
"Key to the advertisement is that the last day for objections to the sale is on Friday 21 April," said Susan Campbell of Kim.
Former Knysna municipal manger Dr Sitembele Vatala and Stratu were arrested on 9 March and charged with fraud in connection with a long-standing property dispute between the GRDM and Knysna. Both men were released on R15 000 bail. They will appear in court again on 12 May.
"We were shocked to learn that only a week later, on 16 March, Stratu advertised a plan to sell four of the disputed properties, including Erven 20, 21 and 22 Belvidere and Erf 2790 Knysna. He did this in defiance of the property dispute, and despite the criminal charges against him," said Campbell.
She said the GRDM is governed by a coalition between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus.
On 7 November last year, the DA and Freedom Front Plus councillors, including the Knysna DA councillors, voted to sell the Knysna properties.
"This was despite being advised by the CFO that the Belvidere properties were the subject of a dispute with Knysna. Stratu did not inform his council that the driving range property was also subject to the dispute, however, the Knysna councillors on the GRDM Council should have been aware of this, and should have protected Knysna Municipality's interests," said Campbell.
The other portion of Erf 9720 houses Knysna Municipality's Department of Electrical Engineering.
An estimation of the boundaries of Erven 20 to 22 in Belvidere. Photo: Google Earth
A rough outline of Erf 9720 on George Rex Drive. Photo: Google Earth
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