Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Two charges of crimen injuria have been laid against Knysna DA Ward 9 councillor, Sharon Sabbagh, by her fellow councillors from the EFF and the PA.

In addition, EFF councillor Neil Louw also lodged a complaint against Sabbagh with the SA Human Rights Commission.

The charges and complaint stem from an incident during a Knysna committee meeting on Tuesday 26 March when Sabbagh, who had the floor, was constantly interrupted. After the umpteenth interruption and pleading to be heard, Sabbagh asks: “…are we going to have a yappa yappa monkey circus going on here...?”

Chaos erupted with councillors accusing Sabbagh of calling them monkeys. An accusation that Sabbagh emphatically denied.

The crimen injuria charge, a “common law crime involving the intentional, wrongful and unlawful impairment of a person’s dignity”, according to the charge sheet, was laid at Knysna police station on Wednesday by Louw.

Knysna councillor Beauty Charlie (PA) also laid a charge of crimen injuria yesterday (April 4).

Louw confirmed that he had laid the charge, saying the alleged remarks had upset him deeply and impaired his dignity.

In addition, Louw also handed a complaint on the allegations to the Knysna Speaker, calling for action against Sabbagh.

Deputy mayor Albert Marbi confirmed that the PBI withdrew a motion of exigency ( a state of affairs that makes urgent demands) against Sabbagh at a council meeting on Tuesday (April 3) .

This was done after it became known that Louw had already submitted his formal complaint to the Speaker.

According to Marbi the Speaker’s office is expected to table an item at council to investigate the matter, or to refer it to the Knysna Municipality disciplinary committee.

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