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KNYSNA NEWS - The acting municipal manager of Knysna, Phaahle Simon Malepeng, has allegedly received a death threat - according to him by none other than the Knysna mayor and deputy mayor.
Apparently the alleged threats arose from the proposed Grey Elephant Investments debt write-off by the municipality.
In an email sent to Mncedisi Skosana, the speaker of the council, early on Thursday 31 October, Malepeng states that Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa and Deputy Mayor Alberto Marbi, had demanded his resignation “with immediate effect” and that if he did not agree to this, “my life will be at risk including a death threat”.
He said the death threat was made during a meeting held at the George Airport on 29 October at 11:00.
Requested protection
Malepeng said he had made a statement to the SAPS, and has requested protection.
Sergeant Christopher Spies, police media liaison officer for the Southern Cape, said in response to a media enquiry sent by the Knysna-Plett Herald "the matter cited in your enquiry is a subject of an ongoing police probe and identities of individuals involved cannot be divulged at this stage".
"Kindly be advised that SAPS protection provided to individuals is of a classified nature and not something that is discussed in the public domain, but rather directly with the party concerned," said Spies.
Malepeng requested leave of absence from the municipality in his email sent to the speaker and some councillors, as well as CFO Clifford Julies, early on Thursday.
He asked that the CFO act on his behalf at Thursday's council meeting, which Malepeng did not attend.
Contacted by Knysna-Plett Herald, Malepeng said: “I have no comment at this stage.”
'Under the bus'
In his email, Malepeng said: "you [the speaker] and municipal council are hereby formally informed of the meeting held on 29 October 2024 at approximately 11:00 at the George Airport with myself, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor”.
In that meeting, the mayor and deputy mayor reportedly levelled various accusations against the acting municipal manager, “including accusations relating to Grey Elephant Investment and that I am colluding with the DA to put them under the bus”.
“At the end of the meeting they told me that they cannot work with me anymore and they both demanded that I resign with immediate effect, and, if I do not do so, my life will be at risk including a death threat," the email reads.
“Subsequent to that, on 30 October 2024, I have made a statement with SAPS and further requested for protection."
Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa
Leave of absence
The email continues: “I hereby request you to bring this to the attention of the municipal council and request to be provided with protection [sic].
“In the circumstances, please accept my application for leave of absence at the Council Meeting today [Thursday]. I have requested the CFO to attend on my behalf.
"Kind regards Simon Malepeng - Acting Municipal Manager.”
A request for comment has been sent to Mayor Tsengwa and Deputy Mayor Marbi as well as to the DA.
As soon as responses are received, they will be added to this article.
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