KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba has elicited the ire of EFF councillor Neil Louw for meeting with AfriForum as part of the municipality's involving roleplayers in the town.

Louw said, as the EFF councillor and chairperson for Integrated Human Settlements, and the entire EFF in Knysna, "we wish to make it unequivocally clear that we will not, under any circumstances, engage with or collaborate with AfriForum, a deeply divisive and racially charged entity that perpetuates exclusionary and discriminatory practices".

'Racist agenda'

"The EFF has long stood firm in its opposition to AfriForum, an organisation known for its racist agenda and backward-looking ideologies that seek to further entrench racial inequality in South Africa," said Louw.

Mapholoba and municipal staff members "held a productive engagement with representatives from AfriForum on Thursday 23 January", according to the municipality.

"The open and frank discussions laid the groundwork for potential collaboration, focusing on tapping into AfriForum's expertise and exploring project management opportunities to benefit the town."

Memorandum of Understanding

A formal proposal, which will serve as the foundation for a Memorandum of Understanding between the organisations, is expected to follow soon.

AfriForum said Mapholoba "emphasised the importance of involving community organisations who share a vested interest in Knysna's future, and welcomed AfriForum's expertise".

Louw said the EFF "recognised and appreciate" the municipal manager's call for residents, businesses, and civil society groups to engage in a constructive manner.

"However, let it be known that the EFF will only engage with those who share our vision of a non-racial, democratic South Africa - one where every citizen is empowered and treated with fairness, and not one where discriminatory entities like AfriForum are given a platform," he said.

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