Knysna deputy mayor ousted

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KNYSNA NEWS & VIDEO - Great anticipation and only standing room was the order of the day in the public gallery of the council chambers at the special council meeting of the Knysna municipal council on Wednesday 25 October.

The meeting had been called to deal with two motions: the first dealt with removing deputy mayor Peter Myers and immediately electing another deputy mayor.

This motion was brought by DA chief whip and Ward 1 councillor Levael Davis on 16 October.

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The second motion, brought by ANC Ward 8 councillor Victor Molosi on 17 October, was for the removal of speaker and DA PR councillor Georlene Wolmarans as well as mayor and DA Ward 5 councillor Eleanore Bouw-Spies – and the election of another speaker and mayor.

This motion requested that the ballot process be conducted in secret.

First issue on the table in secrecy
When the motion brought by the DA against the deputy mayor was raised, an amendment was proposed by Davis to only proceed with the motion of no confidence and elect a new deputy mayor at a later stage.

This led to vigorous debate and legal opinion obtained by the municipal administration.

The opposition (ANC) opposed this motion and proposed a countermotion, that Myers remain in his position as deputy mayor and that voting be done by secret ballot and not a show of hands.

The first issue put to the vote was on the secrecy of the ballot, and it was decided by 11 votes to 10 that voting would be conducted by a show of hands. Myers voted with the opposition in this matter.

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The ANC's counterproposal that Myers remain in his current position did not carry, with nine votes in favour and 12 against.

Tension is obvious as councillor Martin Young and speaker Georlene Wolmarans observe proceedings after Wolmarans had to step down as speaker for a few minutes during voting on the motion affecting her.

Vote of no confidence in Myers
This motion was then put to the vote, with 10 voting against including the deputy mayor who had expressed his reservations about the legitimacy of the proceedings.

After a delay caused by DA Ward 11 councillor Donovan Pofadder, who did not immediately cast his vote as he was talking to head of disaster management and social services Richard Meyer, Poffadder's vote was cast and the motion was carried by 11 votes to 10.

Pofadder then explained to council that his conversation with Meyers had been caused by the fact that he had received what he perceived to be a direct threat to his life via a WhatsApp message in Afrikaans.

The speaker then advised him to take the matter further with both law enforcement and the police.

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The gist of the WhatsApp message, seen by KPH, was that should the opposition lose, "unnamed people would come after him”.

Vote for removal of speaker and mayor
The second motion, requesting the removal of the speaker and mayor, was then brought before council.

This motion was opposed in its entirety by DA Ward 9 councillor Mark Willemse. The request for a secret ballot was then put to the vote, but it was decided that this too would be determined by a show of hands.

Executive mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies gestures while talking to councillor Mark Willemse after a DA caucus.

Twelve voted for a show of hands and nine for a secret ballot.

The speaker then stepped down and handed over to the municipal manager Mr Kam Chetty while the council dealt with the motion to remove her – which caused another lengthy exchange of views.

The appointment of an acting speaker was decided by secret ballot with the two candidates being between Willemse, nominated by the DA, and Molosi nominated by the ANC.

Acting speaker appointed for minutes only
Willemse was then appointed acting speaker by 12 votes to nine and the motion for the removal of the speaker was dealt with by a show of hands.

The motion was overruled by 12 votes to nine with both Ward 4 independent councillor Velile Waxa and ACDP Ward 4 councillor Shakespeare Arends supporting the DA.

The speaker, Wolmarans, then resumed her seat and the motion for the removal of the mayor served before council.