KNYSNA NEWS - Marlene Boyce, Knysna Municipality's Director of Corporate Services, has been temporarily suspended after a complaint by former Knysna deputy mayor Alberto Marbi of her allegedly contravening the Code of Conduct for Senior Managers as contained in legislation.
Her action was described in the complaint as "gross misconduct".
Her suspension during an in-committee session at a special Knysna council meeting on Wednesday 28 January was confirmed by Municipal Manager Lulamile Mapholoba.
Boyce could not be reached for comment. A message left on her office phone went unanswered. Should a response be received, it will be added.
Precautionary suspension
Mapholoba said Boyce was placed on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of the disciplinary process.
"In the interests of both parties, the merits of the case will not be discussed in the media, as the matter is confidential," he said.
Marbi, now a councillor in the Garden Route District Municipality, said in a letter to Mapholoba that Boyce misled Council to approve recommendations to relocate the Department of Planning and Development from the Knysna Mall "into a building that is not correctly zoned for the intended use".
He said the matter included the rezoning and safety compliances of the building and that "the building is being illegally occupied, with the rezoning application still not in place months after the building was occupied".
Erf 568, a block of flats, and Erf 571, a house, are zoned as General Residential Zone III in terms o f the Knysna Municipality Zoning Scheme By-law, 2020.
Contraventions of various sections of the by-laws carry potential fines of up to R10m and up to 20 years imprisonment.
In-committee resolution
"As the director and head of that department she was supposed to get proper advice and should have advised the council accordingly," read the complaint.
A council resolution (SC05/07/25) was tabled on 25 July last year and discussed in committee for authorisation to bring land use applications in respect of Erven 3534, 568, 571 and re/1343 Knysna.
The report was noted and it was recommended that the municipal manager be authorised to sign the relevant powers of attorney to bring land use applications to use the properties as office space.
The council authorised the waiver of any fees pertaining to the land use application processes for the erven.
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