Anger over DA councillor's axing

Update

KNYSNA POLITICAL NEWS - Following the removal of Ward 11 DA Councillor Lorraine Opperman from the Knysna Council, the community organisation Knysna United and the Good party in Knysna have attacked the DA, claiming the party wants to make Knysna a "white town".

Last week, the DA announced the termination of Opperman's membership after she voted against the DA's motion to curtail the power of the mayor - which means she also loses her seat in Council.

In a statement on Friday, Knysna United chair Reverend Ralph Stander said Knysna United was appalled by the firing of Opperman.

"Ant Lorraine is a community woman and a mother. She was never a politician, but a community person fighting for women's and children's rights. God forbid, but the DA got hold of her. They got her to win a by-election in which they never stood a chance," he said.

He said the DA won Ward 11 by a small margin and the first thing they did was to try to get rid of a coloured mayor, Elrich van Aswegen.

"They failed, but were obsessed with making Knysna white again. They had no interest in Hornlee or coloured issues, let alone any issue in any location," Stander said.

In a Good statement issued on Friday, convener of the party in Knysna, John Williams, said Opperman was a community person and an activist for the poor and downtrodden.

"Ant Lorraine was used by the DA to win a by-election and to turn a 'fed-up with the DA community' to again vote for the DA. What was her reward? To be ridiculed and sacked when she could no longer be quiet about DA racism," Williams said.

He said the community's eyes would now, finally, be opened. "First they got rid of Councillor Donavan Pofadder and now Ant Lorraine. Who will be next if they open their mouths?"

Former DA Councillor Lorraine Opperman

Race card

Responding to the allegations, DA Knysna Constituency Head Dion George said he was not surprised that the race card is being played. "Former Councillor Opperman was dismissed because she voted with the ANC on 28 January. She never raised any allegations of racism, so this is nothing but a fabrication by political opportunists," he said.

George told Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) the DA had informed Acting Municipal Manager Dawid Adonis about the vacant seat and he would advise the IEC to call a by-election.

He said Knysna will never be DA again and the DA stands no chance in the coming by-election.

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