KNYSNA NEWS - The Accountability Group (TAG) is suffering headwinds in its Western Cape High Court application to have the Knysna council dissolved.

This follows remarks by Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell in the Western Cape legislature on Thursday 21 November, that TAG's application was "legally flawed".

Asked to elaborate on the "flaws" contained in the application to place the municipality under administration and dissolve the council, Bredell said he could not comment as "the matter is now in court".

'Urgently intervene'

Earlier TAG had written to the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) with the request to urgently intervene in Knysna and dissolve the Knysna council.

Esmé Jefferys, chairperson of TAG

Cogta Minister Velinkosini Hlabisa said while he thanked TAG for its "activism and and citizenry displayed", the Provincial Executive Council was the entity to intervene "when a municipal administration failed to execute their executive obligations".

"Any further action by the national government… will be determined by the action of the Provincial Government."

Bredell responded to questions from the GOOD party on the latest court action.

'Change government at polls'

"The department decided to oppose the court application because their (TAG) case is legally flawed," said Bredell.

Bredell said he was aware residents of Knysna were angry with the current coalition government in the town.

"I understand that the public is upset, but people need to understand we change government at the polls during an election. We have a huge responsibility to ensure that there is not a complete lapse of service.

"If TAG wins the case, we will have to deal with the consequences. I cannot advise the premier or cabinet that we would be confident to win the case. Our responsibility is to help the municipality," said Bredell.

'Political, administrative instability'

"The political and administrative instability appeared to be the main causes behind the issues being experienced."

If the case proceeded, one of the first things the courts would ask is what interventions the provincial government had made in Knysna - which include solving a refuse crisis, and helping to fix and replace pumps in the municipality.

'Information is inaccurate'

"So the pressure is on, but where we currently stand, we think that The Accountability Group's application doesn't have grounds to go through the legal process," he said.

Ryan Smith, the DA's constituency head for Knysna, said the DA in Knysna supports TAG's application, "however, we note that some of the information cited in the papers pertaining to the responsibility of the Western Cape Government as the provincial executive is inaccurate, and thus may not lead to a favourable judgment.

"We will also make our own submission to correct these inaccuracies in council."

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