KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Unity Congress (KUC) Councillor Manwabisi Salaze has accused the KUC secretary, Monwabisi Gana, of conspiring against the party with the DA after pictures of Gana waving a DA flag during last week's Ward 11-by-elections made the rounds on social media.
In this latest development in the ongoing tussle for leadership of the KUC, Salaze reiterated his view that the DA is using Gana to oust him from the Knysna Council.
On 15 April, Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) reported that Gana had called on Knysna Municipality to remove Salaze as KUC councillor as his membership had terminated last year after he allegedly did not pay his membership fees. Salaze refuted the claim, saying he was still chairman of KUC and that Gana was being used by the DA to remove him.
This week Salaze told KPH that the photo of Gana wielding the DA flag was proof that Gana is working with the DA to oppose him and topple him from his position in the municipality. "KUC members are asking, 'Why is Gana not joining the DA?' and 'Stop dragging the KUC name into the mud'," he said. "This picture proves what we have been saying as KUC members that Gana is working for the DA."
Salaze said the photo exposes Gana for his intentions of snuffing out the KUC.
"I am a leader of KUC, not of the DA. Gana is not a KUC member, he just wears our T-shirts," he said.
KUC member Lwando Mgidi (left) and KUC secretary Vincent Gana, who is holding a DA flag.
Responding to Salaze's allegations, Gana said he was just standing next to the DA table on election day holding a DA flag and this does not make him a DA member.
"Our mandate as KUC says that we must work with the DA. What he is doing in the name of KUC working with the ANC is wrong. The mandate we got from the people is clear on who we must work with in Knysna Municipality Council," he said.
"Salaze will always fight us, but that will not help him. I don't know where is he reporting to and where he is getting the mandate because he is not reporting to KUC. I am a member of KUC and he is not. Our membership is renewed yearly and I know that Salaze's membership expired," he alleged.
DA Knysna Constituency Head Dion George said he has no knowledge of the allegations and will not comment on KUC internal affairs.
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