KNYSNA NEWS - The election of new mayor Thando Matika of the ANC has met with mixed reaction.
Matika was elected without opposition as the DA, the largest opposition party, decided not to field a candidate.
Matika's election followed the ousting of former mayor and fellow ANC member Aubrey Tsengwa after a no confidence motion brought by the EFF's Neil Louw, a partner in the ruling ANC-led coalition
Louw said it would be inappropriate to draw direct comparisons between Matika and Tsengwa.
'Needs neglected'
"Both councillor Matika and the former mayor, councillor Tsengwa, belong to the ANC, and as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), we believe it is crucial to caution councillor Matika against inheriting the ineffective leadership that plagued the tenure of councillor Tsengwa - under whose leadership the people of Knysna suffered as the community's needs were neglected for nearly two years," said Louw.
ANC Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Neville Delport, said in a statement that Matika's journey from municipal intern to mayor "is a testament to dedication, perseverance, and a deep commitment to public service".
'Wealth of experience'
"His leadership will strengthen the coalition and reinforce the stability needed to accelerate service delivery and economic development.
"As the current chief whip and convener for the ANC Youth League, Matika brings a wealth of experience in municipal governance.
"His academic qualifications in local economic development will be invaluable in addressing Knysna's socio-economic challenges," said Delport.
Deputy mayor Alberto Marbi of the PBI, also a coalition partner, welcomed Matika's election "as we always believe in good governance and to take the town further".
Ryan Smith, DA Knysna constituency head, said Matika will only continue the municipality's "demise" and "further deteriorate the state of the municipality".
'Reshuffling of chairs'
"It is evident that former ANC mayor Aubrey Tsengwa's removal, and incoming mayor, Thando Matika's election, are merely a reshuffle of the chairs on the Titanic to maintain the interests of the coalition of corruption and disregard those of Knysna's residents," said Smith.
In a statement released on 28 February he said "the DA calls on (Western Cape) Local Government MEC (Anton Bredell), to swiftly place Knysna under administration".
'Closing ranks'
"There remains no pathway to a stable alternative majority government in Knysna, and thus it was not possible for an alternate candidate to stand and win.
"This is the inevitable outcome of Knysna's fractured council make up where small parties hold the balance of power, and which only allows the ANC/EFF/PA/PBI coalition to continue closing ranks to keep the coalition of corruption in government," added Smith.
In his acceptance speech Matika acknowledged that Knysna is governed by a coalition.
'Improving lives of all'
"I want to assure this council and, most importantly, our residents that our coalition government is founded on principles of stability, cooperation, and service delivery.
"We are here to govern in a manner that is responsible, transparent, and focused on improving the lives of all who call this municipality home.
"I know that coalitions bring uncertainty but let me be clear: we are committed to making this coalition work," said Matika.
He said he will be meeting with the Mayoral Committee and senior management "in the coming days", led by the municipal manager "to map out a strategic and realistic plan to address these challenges head-on".
He said key areas to focus on included:
- Water security - "We will work urgently to strengthen water infrastructure, reduce water losses, and improve supply consistency."
- Financial stability - "We must improve revenue collection, manage expenditure responsibly, and ensure that every rand is spent in a way that benefits our residents.
"We will implement strategies to enhance fiscal discipline and restore financial health."
- Sewerage and sanitation - "The state of sanitation in some parts of our municipality is unacceptable. We will prioritise upgrading sewerage infrastructure, improving maintenance services, and ensuring that our communities do not suffer from preventable health hazards."
- Housing and human settlements
- Roads and potholes - "The condition of our roads affects daily life and economic activity. We will establish an urgent pothole repair plan."
New mayoral committee
Matika's new mayoral committee members are:
Beauty Charlie (Patriotic Alliance) - Infrastructure Services; Waleed Grootboom (Patriotic Alliance) - Community Service; Alberto Marbi (Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners) - Planning, Economic Development and Tourism; Kay Andrews (ANC) - Finance and Governance; and Neil Louw (EFF) - Integrated Human Settlements.
Read a previous article: New mayor for Knysna
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