Update

KNYSNA NEWS - It has been a week since the resignation of Kam Chetty – Knysna's fifth municipal manager in five years – and the community is yet to be given official reasons why.

Knysna-Plett Herald set out to seek answers and most importantly ask the question, why?

In this regard, we sent out email enquiries, made several telephone calls to his office and cellphone, and even paid a visit to his office just to get some answers, but all these attempts proved futile this week, as it appears he might be dodging the question at every turn.

The official response from the municipality is that Chetty has cited personal reasons in his resignation letter to the municipality, the contents of which are not being released to the media.

'Personal reasons' in question
Senior politicians are of the opinion that "personal reasons" could relate to Chetty's relationship with council, which at times can clearly be interpreted to indicate that Chetty wasn't exactly always "persona grata" and regularly had conflict with certain councillors – even from within the DA.

“An acting municipal manager will be appointed in due course,” concluded a statement regarding the resignation, received from the municipality, who also gave "assurance that service delivery will continue unhampered".

But all this silence with regard to the real reasons behind the resignation has led to flames of speculation from members of the public.

On social media, residents are having a field day, each with their own set of reasons behind the departure of a municipal manager that has served Knysna for less than a year.

One local posted that it was not surprising, and that Chetty's departure could uncover the "goings on" and "cover-ups".

'Makes no difference whatsoever'
Others were kinder, stating that whether or not Chetty did a good job, got embroiled in a dubious fire report, was a good person to work for, etc, makes "absolutely no difference whatsoever".

There are also accusations that Chetty protected DA corruption – and used his position to protect former mayor Eleanor Bouw Spies.

And in the midst of all the speculation was a certain good point: “Maybe if more people had a chance to meet him and the ex-major and get answers there would not be such ill feelings. I still feel lack of communication has caused some of these feelings. No communication leads people to think they are hiding something even if they are not.”

Aside from Chetty's sudden departure, beneath the surface of politics, DA in-fighting and the day to day drama that has now become accustomed to the Knysna Municipality, there lies an administration department ready and willing to work for this community.

Or at least that is the general perception, specifically among some senior managers who speak cautiously in any municipal setting. On the sidelines, there is general consensus that politics are ruining the town, and municipal employees just want to get on with the job at hand.

The municipal managers resignation could be the first sign of interference within the administration, and if so, it certainly will not be the last.

Read a previous article: Municipal manager resigns

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