KNYSNA POLITICAL NEWS - The DA candidate for Ward 9, Sharon Sabbagh, has come out strongly in her own defence following a recent social media onslaught on her credibility to stand as a local political representative.

Last week, Sabbagh was attacked on social media for being a rate defaulter to the effect of R32 778 while she was councillor in Johannesburg, that she contested elections in Port Elizabeth in 2016 and was number 57 in the DA PR lists and not a permanent resident of Knysna.

Sabbagh this week told Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) that she has been a property owner in Knysna since 2011, while still owning property in Saxonwold in Johannesburg. Her partner owned a property in Port Elizabeth, she said.

“I have been a property owner and ratepayer in Knysna since 2011 and now permanently resident since just before Covid-19 lockdown. For the 2016 municipal elections I was going to be in Port Elizabeth so I updated my voter registration details to ensure I was included in the voters roll and could cast my vote,” she said.

Sabbagh said she availed herself to the DA in Port Elizabeth and submitted an application for both ward and PR councillor positions. “I was number 57 on the PR list and, at the last minute, the DA asked me to stand as the Ward 60 candidate, when their selected candidate withdrew. I was in Knysna at the time, and went to the DA Knysna offices to have the nomination form commissioned and faxed to PE. 

"In 2016, I was resident in both Port Elizabeth and Knysna having a home in both. After the sale of my home in Johannesburg in 2013 my primary residence has been Knysna,” she said.

Sabbagh said she registered to vote in Knysna before the national and provincial elections of 2019, so that she could cast her vote in the Western Cape as this is where she was predominantly resident. “I moved permanently to Knysna on the eve of lockdown after the sale of the home in Port Elizabeth. I no longer have any other home but in Knysna,” she said.

Responding to an article published by News24 in April 2011 that she was in arrears to the tune of R32 778 when she was councillor in Johannesburg, Sabbagh said the online messages were sent to discredit her. 

“This relates to an incorrect billing by City of Johannesburg. I owned a property in Saxonwold which I subdivided into three portions in 2007. The original property description, together with the three subdivided property descriptions were included in the COJ valuation roll, resulting in the original property being incorrectly billed (this property no longer existed at the time the Municipal Property Rates Act was implemented). I sold Portion 1 and 3 in 2008, and Portion 2, which included the original home, remained my family home until I sold it in 2013,” she said.

Sabbagh said she has been a ratepayer in Knysna since 2011 but commuted for work purposes. 

“I was not living permanently in my home, situated on the Pezula Golf Estate. Does that preclude me from throwing my hand up, and committing myself to contest a by-election in a municipality where I am a registered voter and a South African citizen? I live in Ward 9, so I am the most local candidate,” she said.

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