KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna remains without an elected executive mayor after the special council meeting on Wednesday 23 September failed to reach a quorum and was adjourned. The municipality has not provided a new date for the election of the executive mayor.

The development follows the ANC's formal notification that former mayor Thando Matika is no longer an ANC member. Matika and Ward 3 councillor Lukhanyiso Nohana are listed by the IEC as candidates for the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the upcoming local government elections.

ANC regional spokesperson James Sijama said the party respected Matika's right to make his political choice, but had asked Knysna Municipality to remove him as an ANC councillor and follow the legal process to declare the position vacant.

Nohana has already been removed as a councillor and is challenging his expulsion from the ANC in court. Ward 7 councillor Mboneli Khumelwana is also believed to no longer be an ANC member, although the ANC has not officially confirmed his status.

The municipality previously confirmed that Matika had ceased to be executive mayor and that the mayoral committee (mayco) had been dissolved.

Deputy Mayor Morton Gericke was expected to act as mayor pending the election of a new executive mayor. However, with Wednesday's meeting unable to proceed, there is currently no mayoral committee, as only the newly elected mayor can appoint a mayco.

Councillors absent from Wednesday's meeting were DA councillor Hilton Stroebel, who was absent with leave and a medical certificate, as well as Kay Andrews (ANC), Russel Arends (ANC), Neil Louw (EFF), Pindile Petros (ANC), Beauty Charlie (PA), Richard Kokora (PA) and Morton Gericke (PBI).

The council has 21 seats, with four vacancies.

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