ANC back in power

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - DA rule in Knysna has yet again been toppled with four motions of no confidence passed in Council yesterday, Wednesday 31 August.

The ANC secured three top positions: Aubrey Tsengwa as mayor, Mncedisi Skosana as speaker and Mboneli Khumelwana as chief whip of council. PBI's Alberto Marbi is the new deputy mayor.

With a total of 21 councillors in Knysna Council, the power is now in the hands of the ANC (7) with the support of the PA (2), EFF (1) and PBI (1). The wild card at play was a single vote from the EFF, which previously ensured a position of power for the DA (8) and KIM (2).

However, EFF Councillor Neil Louw did not receive a position on the mayoral committee nor any key position in council.

Speaking for the last time before his removal as deputy mayor, Mark Willemse (KIM) said the shift in power is not for the reasons one would hope.

"What good has been done in the past, will in all likelihood be destroyed." He said there was no reason to remove any of the town leaders other than to plunge the municipality into darkness.

New mayor Aubrey Tsengwa thanked the PBI, PA and EFF for working with the ANC for the greater good of Knysna. "I believe this shift in power should have happened long ago. I am ready to get down to the real business of leading Knysna into the future."

He said two of his top priorities are to appoint a full-time municipal manager and permanent chief financial officer. "Something that the DA and KIM could not do," Tsengwa said.

New deputy mayor Alberto Marbi (PBI).