Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality's municipal manager, Ombali Sebola, has again been instructed by the Western Cape High Court to leave his office.

On Tuesday 28 May, the court rejected Sebola's application for leave to appeal its 10 May judgment, telling him to vacate his office. Sebola had said he will remain in office if his leave to appeal is granted.

Now, for the second time in 18 days, Acting Judge M Pangarkar ruled that he may no longer remain in his position. In the 10 May judgment, Pangarkar found Sebola's appointment was null and void.

Pangarkar ruled on Tuesday that Sebola's application for leave to appeal on 13 May "was indeed an abuse of the [legal] process…".

Pangarkar struck his leave to appeal application from the roll with costs.

The judge also ordered in the judgment on Tuesday that Sebola pay the costs of two Section 18 applications by the DA and Western Cape Minister of Local Government Anton Bredell.

Pangarkar said the operation and execution of the court's judgment on 10 May are not suspended and remain in operation and executable, "notwithstanding Mr Sebola's amended leave to appeal applications, any petition for leave to appeal and/or appeal".

DA Knysna Constituency Head Dion George said in reaction to the judgment that Sebola must vacate his office immediately. 

"Mr Sebola's appointment was irregular and he is patently unsuitable to occupy the position. Together with the ANC/PA/EFF coalition of corruption that appointed him, Sebola has collapsed service delivery in Knysna that faces a water delivery crisis; financial crisis; sewage crisis and waste management crisis," said George. "The question must be asked why he so desperately wants to cling illegally to his office."

George said that the Western Cape Provincial Government has issued directives to the municipality demanding that they comply with waste management and environmental management legislation, but to date, the municipality has not complied.

"The next actions will be to place the municipality under administration, dissolve the council and hold a local election to enable the people of Knysna to choose a competent and stable government," he said.

"He [Sebola] also needs to explain why he met with Cllr Neil Louw, an EFF party representative and the owner of the Knysna Mall, at 18:00 on 29 April 2024, outside of his office and office hours. What was discussed and agreed? The DA will not tolerate any corrupt behaviour and is determined to restore good governance in Knysna."

Sebola has been asked for comment and when received it will be added as an update to this article.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’