KNYSNA POLITICAL NEWS - The DA issued a statement on Thursday 13 August calling on Acting Municipal Manager Dr Louis Scheepers to investigate why the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to not prosecute former mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies was "kept secret"' since March last year.

In the statement questioning the municipality's actions, DA Constituency Head Dion George said Knysna residents were misinformed about allegations of corruption against Bouw-Spies for a long time, giving "credence" to the "opportunistic move" by former Knysna mayor Mark Willemse to remove her from office.

Willemse responded, calling George's statement a deflection from the real issue. "Everyone would like to know why the DPP's decision was not made known at the time, the bigger question is why the charges were dropped and whether the charges brought against the then municipal manager and other municipal officials are still being pursued," he said.

He also said George seems to suggest that there was something sinister behind the so-called secrecy regarding the outcome of the allegations against Bouw-Spies. 

"To firstly insinuate that this was purposefully done and that this in some way proves innocence is disingenuous at best. There are many reasons why the DPP may decide not to pursue the charges, it does not mean the charges were fabricated as one person has suggested and which may even be deemed defamatory by those who conducted the investigation," he said.

Knysna municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt said the matter was brought to the attention of Council in a meeting on 6 August.

"Council requested that Acting Municipal Manager Dr Louis Scheepers prepare a report for the next council meeting for discussion. We are therefore not able to comment at this stage," he said.

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