Update

KNYSNA NEWS -  The Western Cape Department of Local Government Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has confirmed that criminal charges of transgressing environmental legislation have been laid against Knysna Municipality.

Wouter Kriel, spokesman for MEC Anton Bredell, confirmed that the charges were laid by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, part of Bredell’s portfolio. These relate to spillages into the Knysna lagoon and waste piling up in town.

Meanwhile, Knysna Municipality reacted to a strongly worded statement by local DA Constituency Head, MP Dr Dion George, saying he was “overzealous” in his statement about the environmental charges laid against the municipality for not complying with directives.

Knysna Municipality Communications Manager Christopher Bezuidenhout, said yesterday 10 April that “at no point did the municipality decline to implement any of the directives issued”.
Bezuidenhout said the municipality  would continue to “work hard and make progress in addressing the issues identified in the Support Plan compiled by the Western Cape Provincial Government (WCPG)” .

The support plan is based on a Diagnostic Analysis and Diagnostic Assessment Report compiled by the Western Cape Department of Local Government that Knysna Council adopted in March.

Bezuidenhout acknowledged that the municipality had received directives in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA), the latest being on 28 March, to which the municipality responded on 5 April.

“At no point did the municipality decline to implement any of the directives issued, and we continue to work hard and make progress in addressing the issues identified in the plan. We also provide the Department of Local Government with regular updates as stipulated in the directives,” Bezuidenhout said.

George, in a statement made earlier on Wednesday 10 April, welcomed the Western Cape Government's decision to lay criminal charges against Knysna Municipality for failing to implement directives issued by the Provincial Department of Local Government.

George said the ANC/EFF/PA/PBI “coalition of corruption has brought Knysna to its knees”.
"Service delivery in Knysna has collapsed to the extent that the Western Cape Department of Local Government had to issue two directives to the municipality to attempt to force them into action and address the myriad of problems.

“A mounting pile of rubbish in the centre of town, raw sewage running into the lagoon, a water crisis that remains unresolved, and a financial crisis, are among the many issues impacting the residents of the municipality," George said.

He said the recovery plan contains “key action-steps that will help to improve the situation in Knysna”.
“But the local ruling coalition is unable and unwilling to implement the plan,” added George.

Bezuidenhout responded that the support plan is still in the beginning stages. “Working groups are developing the best support strategies and approaches. The final commitments will also be provided for in the next budget cycle.

“Council remains committed to working towards a better Knysna for all our residents, and perhaps Dr George is a bit overzealous in his statement,” Bezuidenhout said.

Read the previous article: Province lays charges against Knysna Municipality

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’