KNYSNA NEWS - Leaked emails that preceded the suspension of a senior manager at Knysna Municipality have raised questions about the interaction between Mayor Thando Matika and Municipal Manager Lulamile Mapholoba in relation to the disciplinary process.

According to a source who leaked the correspondence, the manager sent an email to the Western Cape Government raising concerns about the municipality's proposed macro structure and travel allowance, and warning about what the manager believed could create opportunities for possible looting.

The source said the manager submitted the concerns to a senior provincial official in a personal capacity, based on publicly available information. 

The concerns reportedly related to a council resolution contained in an open agenda in October 2025.

However, the correspondence was subse-quently forwarded by another provincial official to Mapholoba, requesting comment on the issues raised.

The concerns were related to the establishment of a separate Strategic Services and Human Settlements Directorate and the placement of various departments, which are not inter-related, under this directorate.

The manager, who requested anonymity for personal reasons, declined to comment. 

The manager indicated that commenting publicly could negatively affect the defence in an ongoing disciplinary process currently being facilitated by a union.

Advice from mayor

In correspondence seen by Knysna-Plett Herald, Mapholoba sought input from Matika regarding the concerns that the manager had raised with the province.

In his response, Matika outlined a proposed reply to the provincial treasury official, stating that the manager's actions could be viewed as undermining the municipality, the council and the administration.

• The allegations against the manager included the alleged undermining of:
• The authority of the office held by the manager within the municipality
• The role and professional integrity of the chief financial officer
• The collective authority of the council as the municipality's highest decision-making body.

In correspondence seen by the newspaper, Matika wrote that the matter "warrants urgent attention in terms of internal gover-nance and labour relations processes".

He said the matter was not about suppres-sing legitimate concerns.

"This is not about suppressing legitimate concerns, but about upholding governance, discipline, and respect for institutional processes. No official should undermine the municipality, council, or the administration they are employed to serve," he wrote.

Matika also raised concern that the submission had allegedly been made using an official municipal email address and official channels, despite the contents being personal in nature and critical of council decisions and the administration.

"In this regard, and without pre-empting any processes, I am of the considered view that this matter warrants urgent attention in terms of internal governance and labour relations processes," he wrote to Mapholoba.

"It would be prudent for your office to consider precautionary measures, including suspension, pending a formal investigation into the allegations raised in the submission, the motives, process and conduct surrounding the escalation of the matter to the province, and the potential misuse of municipal resources and breach of organisational protocols."

Matika added: "I trust this response will assist your office in providing a comprehensive and balanced reply to the Provincial Office."

This correspondence was subsequently used to form part of the basis for allega-tions that resulted in the manager being suspended.

The manager has denied the allegations, stating that the concerns were submitted in a personal capacity, using a personal email account and based on publicly available information, including a council resolution contained in an open agenda in October 2025.

Concerns raised

The email exchange has raised questions among some observers about the nature of the communication between the political leadership and the municipal administration. Some have suggested that the exchange could point to possible political interference in administrative processes, although these claims have not been independently verified.

Mapholoba has since been suspended on other allegations.

Municipal response

Knysna Municipality communications manager Christopher Bezuidenhout said the municipality does not comment publicly on disciplinary matters.

"As previously indicated, the municipality does not, as a matter of policy and principle, engage in discussions of disciplinary matters in the media," he said.

"Such matters are confidential in nature. In the interests of fairness and the protection of the rights of all parties involved, the municipality will not comment publicly on the merits of any case, the substance of any allegations, or the charges under consideration."

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