Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The saga over whether Knysna will be placed under administration faces further legal delays, even if Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell goes ahead with the action.

Knysna council pre-empted a decision by Bredell during a special council meeting on Friday 18 July when it decided through a majority vote to institute an urgent court interdict if Knysna were to be placed under administration.

Knysna Speaker Mark Willemse (KIM) and Mayor Thando Matika (ANC), along with three senior municipal officials, were mandated in a council resolution to institute an urgent interdict against the Western Cape provincial executive if Knysna is put under administration. 

Bredell cut the council's original response deadline by half to 14 days, which resulted in Friday's special meeting.

Once the response is received, he will consider the council's representations before making a recommendation to the Western Cape provincial cabinet for a final decision regarding intervention.

Majority vote
The council resolution was passed on Friday with six ANC votes, one EFF vote, one from PBI and two from KIM. Seven DA councillors voted against the resolution. One DA vote, cast by a councillor attending virtually, was rejected by the speaker because it was cast too late (which was disputed).

The two PA councillors abstained.
Questions were asked by the DA and TAG, the Accountability Group, about spending public money on legal fees from Knysna's limited coffers. It has been estimated that such a step could cost the municipality hundreds of thousands of rands.

The ANC's Khalid Sayed, in contrast, hailed improvements in Knysna Munici-pality, saying he "warmly welcomes the excellent progress reported by the Knysna Municipality in strengthening its finances, governance, and service delivery".

"We applaud the ANC Knysna executive mayor, Cllr Thando Matika, and his leadership team for steering this turnaround with our coalition partners," said Sayed in a media statement released on 17 July.

Excitement
The threatened legal action comes amid growing excitement in some circles over the possibility of an election within 90 days for all 11 wards, also including proportional representation votes that will be up for grabs, which could form part of the intervention process.

IEC provincial electoral officer Michael Hendrickse said the question of an election in Knysna was "speculation".

"Therefore we will not be commenting, other than to confirm that the IEC always stands ready to perform its mandate in line with applicable legislation," he said.

Why?
Sharon Sabbagh, the DA Knysna chief whip, said her party was ready to come out all guns blazing if an election takes place. She said her party had been planning for elections in 2026 and those plans will be implemented in such a case.

Sabbagh said the DA would contest all 11 wards.

"Why an interdict? Asked Sabbagh.

"It will be using public funds (which we don't have) that could be used to benefit the town."

Sabbagh also urged all residents of Knysna to submit examples to Bredell on how the lack of service delivery has impacted them personally.

She said now was the time for Knysna residents to express themselves and re-set the agenda, urging them to send their comments on Bredell's 60-page letter to the municipality, as soon as possible.

The DA had, she said, consistently asked that Knysna be placed under administration.

"It's not what the politicians want, but what the residents of Knysna want."

Readiness
Chinelle Stevens of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) said the party was absolutely ready, should the elections materialise.

"The Patriotic Alliance has mobilised our entire Western Cape and Eastern Cape structures to prepare for the possibility of elections across all 11 Knysna wards. We instructed our councillors to abstain from the recent vote, signalling our readiness for MEC Anton Bredell to act on his notice of intervention.

"Far from fearing this scenario, we see it as a golden opportunity to expand our presence in Knysna.

"With both ward and proportional representative (PR) seats up for grabs, we are fully geared to contest these elections with strength and determination."

Administrator
Stevens said while the PA questioned Bredell's rationale behind his intention to intervene, particularly given Knysna's recent achievements, "we welcome the potential outcome it presents for democratic renewal".

KIM, in a Facebook Post, said it voted to oppose administration but was not opposed to provincial support or intervention in Knysna.

"We are simply opposed to dissolving council and appointing an administrator."

KIM said some criticised the party for opposing administration, saying it was because party leaders want to hang onto their "cushy jobs and salaries".

"But anyone who spends a day listening to council meetings will realise that our jobs are far from cushy, and that serving on council requires patience and perseverance. Now, however, about a year before the next local government elections, administration is unwarranted, and will just lead to further instability," Kim said.

"Moreover, it will likely result in the reversal of the small but incremental gains that have been achieved in recent months.

"Knysna's finances have improved and the days of illegal appointments are over. The highly controversial debt write-off has been reversed, and the municipality is focusing on improved debt collection."

Read previous article: Legal battle looms if Knysna is put under administration | Knysna-Plett Herald 

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