Oh yes, it's the great contenders

KNYSNA NEWS - Ever applied for a job you already have? Well that's the case for the position of Knysna mayor Mark Willemse.

Willemse was peculiarly interviewed by the Western Cape office of the DA for the position last week – even though he is already in the mayor's seat.

It was confirmed this week that other DA members who applied for the position include ousted mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, former deputy mayor Michelle Wasserman, local advocate Julie Seton and councillors Donovan Pofadder and Cathy Weideman.

The DA opened applications for the position of Knysna mayor after finding Willemse guilty of misconduct, and one of the sanctions included that he resign from his position.

Willemse has appealed and will appear before the federal executive of the DA to seek to have the entire finding of misconduct overturned by the Federal Legal Commission.

Provincial media manager for the DA, Odette Cason confirmed that the appeal will be heard on Friday 21 September.

"A total of seven applications were received," reads a statement from Cason, along with confirmation that Willemse applied and was invited for an interview.

The contenders for the position of mayor include:

Michelle Wasserman:
Wasserman is a former councillor who joined Knysna council when the DA took control of the municipality in 2011. She was later appointed deputy mayor before holding the position of Speaker, and resigned at the end of May 2015. Wasserman confirmed that she applied for the position and that it was "up to the party to decide who is the best applicant, and who is the best person to take Knysna forward".

Michelle Wasserman.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies:
Bouw-Spies was ousted in June this year following a vote of no confidence in council, which was brought by the ANC and supported by two members of the DA (Willemse and councillor Peter Myers). Bouw-Spies served as a public representative of the ANC from 2000 to 2011, and later crossed over to the DA as Ward 5 councillor before being elected mayor. She remains the councillor for Ward 5. Bouw-Spies opted not to comment about her application.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies

Julie Seton:
A rather versatile professional, Seton is an advocate currently employed in a junior administrative position on a contract basis for the municipality. Also known as Julie Lopes, she has also tried her hand at journalism for a few months at Knysna-Plett Herald as Julie Jeffreys. She did not take any calls from the newspaper and neither responded to text messages. She is the spouse of Esme Edge, a former deputy mayor of Knysna.

Julie Seton.

Cathy Weideman:
Weideman is Ward 2 councillor (Sedgefield) and ran the 2016 local government election campaign for the DA in Knysna. She was also previously a member of the mayoral committee for Community Services. She was asked for comment on her application, but no response was received at the time of going to press.

Cathy Weideman

Donovan Pofadder:
Pofadder is Ward 11 Hornlee councillor for the DA. He confirmed that he applied for the position, but also that he reconsidered and withdrew. “I did not attend any interview,” he said. The name of the seventh applicant could not be established by the time of going to print.

Donovan Pofadder