Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Mall rental agreement with the municipality was at the centre of a public altercation on Monday 29 April when DA Ward 10 councillor, Peter Bester, was escorted off the premises by mall security.

The incident happened when, according to Bester, Knysna Mall owner Neil Lurie instructed the mall's security team to remove him from the premises. It also included a tussle over a cell phone.

Bester said he was at the mall as a councillor doing an oversight visit related to the lease by the municipality of office space from the mall.

When he spoke to a municipal employee to enquire whether the LED department had moved there, a security guard informed him that he was not allowed into the offices.

At this point, said Bester, Lurie arrived and instructed the security to remove him from the mall.

"During our debate outside the mall, Mr Lurie repeatedly threatened me and said I have no right to do oversight as a councillor over the lease," said Bester.

Bester said his response was that Salga afforded him the right of oversight "on all municipal functions and business",

"He demanded that I leave my cell phone on a bench, and when I refused, he grabbed my wrist and phone trying to wrestle it out of my hand.

"During this exchange, when we were outside the Knysna Mall, Mr Lurie pointed to the road and said: 'Do you want to see this burn today?' I asked him how he planned to make that happen and if this is a threat, to which he did not respond," said Bester, saying Lurie made allegations about him owing money to lawyers "which I do not".

"When I asked him to provide evidence, he responded: 'We know who and what you are and you will be sorry'," said Bester.

There were verbal exchanges outside the mall during which Bester said the municipal manager was not acting in good faith and, despite many requests to him, had not provided Bester with a copy of the lease agreement between the municipality and the mall.

In response to a request by KPH for a copy of the lease agreement, the municipality's communications manager, Christopher Bezuidenhout, responded: "Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with a copy of the lease agreement. You will need to submit an application under the terms of PAIA to our legal department at mbotha@knysna.gov.za."

Bester has since written to municipal manager Ombali Sebelo saying he has been informed that the new premises are not ready for occupation.

Bester's list of problems:

• the building works are not completed and will only be completed by month end;
• the parking requirements as stipulated by legislation have not been met as many bays cannot be used as parking bays due to commercial activities;
• the placement of generators and containers, among other things on bays which can now no longer be used for parking;
• the storage facilities for documents do not comply with the legal requirements;
• there is no cabling allowing connectivity to the internet;
• some occupational health (OHS) requirements have not been met;
• the planning department has prematurely issued an occupation certificate.

Bester, in his letter, also asks Sebola to answer a number of questions relating to the planning approval, parking availability, electrical compliance, availability of toilets for exclusive use by municipal employees and whether the lease agreement was altered.

He also asked that information on costs related to the lease and payments made to Grey Elephant Investments, the owners of the mall, be provided, as well as providing a copy of the lease and amendments.

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