Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna's Patriotic Alliance mayoral committee (mayco) member, Waleed Grootboom, has been relieved of all his mayco council duties.

An e-mail on Monday 14 April from Knysna mayor, Thando Matika, stated Grootboom "has been released [sic] from his council duties by the Patriotic Alliance (PA)".

Matika said he will assume oversight of the community services directorate until the mayco portfolio is filled.

In an earlier video message on Facebook, PA leader, Minister Gayton McKenzie, said Grootboom would be "removed".

In response to a request for clarity about Grootboom's future as an ordinary PA councillor, Knysna Municipality spokesperson, Christopher Bezuidenhout said Grootboom is currently relieved from his duties as Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services. 

"He remains a councillor of the Knysna Municipal Council. Questions about his removal as a councillor will have to be directed to the PA."

Knysna-Plett Herald has approached the PA for clarification and will publish the party's response when received. 

Arrest

Grootboom was arrested last week Friday, 11 April, after he allegedly assaulted a fellow PA politician, Eastern Cape MPL, Tiphany Harmse at her residence in the provincial legislature complex in Bisho.

Grootboom appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality yesterday, Monday, 14 April. He was not charged.

Luxolo Tyali, Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, said the matter “involving a 40-year-old man” was not enrolled at court and it was referred back to the police for further investigation.

He was released on his own recognisance and should the matter be re-enrolled, a subpoena will be issued, said Tyali. 

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