Knysna council structure in a nutshell

KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna municipal council convened for the first time on Thursday, August 25, since the inauguration of the new council, on August 15.

With 14 new councillors on the panel of 21, there are bound to be some teething problems.

Regarding a bone of contention from the inaugural council meeting, that the number of councillors be reduced on the Section 80 committees, DA councillor Mark Willemse proposed that the decision to reduce representation be rescinded.

This was seconded by deputy mayor Peter Myers, and Willemse then proposed that the Section 80 committees have six members, which Bouw-Spies seconded. All councillors approved the decision.

The portfolio committees were selected as follows:

Finance, Governance and Economic Development

Chairperson: Peter Myers (DA)
Mark Willemse (DA)
Luzuko Tyokolo (DA)
Claudine Denise Croutz (ANC)
Mandla Matiwani (ANC)
Elrick van Aswegen (Cope)

Community Services

Chairperson: Cathy Weideman (DA)
Donovan Pofadder (DA)
Welcome Salaze (KUC)
Titi Elizabeth Gombo (ANC)
Mncendisi Skosana (ANC)
Shakespeare Arends (ACDP)

Planning and Integrated Human Settlements

Chairperson: Velile Waxa (independent)
Sbusisu Kwinina (DA)
Donovan Pofadder (DA)
Victor Molosi (ANC)
Mncendisi Skosana (ANC)
Shakespeare Arends (ACDP)

Technical Services

Chairperson: Levael Davis (DA)
Welcome Salaze (KUC)
Martin Young (DA)
Ndoda Aubrey Tsengwa (ANC)
Millicent Ntombise Naki (ANC)
Elrick van Aswegen (Cope)

There was initial confusion as to the composition of the disciplinary committee which, under the previous council, comprised three primary members plus three alternates. This committee now formally comprises six permanent councillors, as follows:

Chairperson: Peter Myers (DA)
Cathy Weideman (DA)
Ndoda Aubrey Tsengwa (ANC)
Mark Willemse (DA)
Donovan Pofadder (DA)
Shakespeare Arends (ACDP)

Congress of the People (Cope) councillor Van Aswegen declined a seat on the municipal public accounts committee (Mpac), saying that it "has no teeth". He questioned the appointment of a part-time councillor as chair, particularly as he believed there to have been capacity issues on this committee in the past.

In line with Western Cape government guidelines, the Mpac is chaired by the opposition, in this case the ANC. It consists of the following members: