Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The judgment by the Western Cape High Court on Friday 10 May declaring the appointment of Ombali Phineas Sebola as Knysna Municipality's municipal manager null and void is "a strong warning message to councils that do not respect the relevant legal frameworks when making appointments in municipalities".

This was the reaction of Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, in a statement released on Tuesday 14 May.

Bredell said the judgment handed down by Judge M Pangarkar "is another victory for the rule of law and strengthens and confirms our interpretation of legislation that governs municipal appointments". 

He also said it cannot be that it takes more than a year of legal wrangling to set aside an appointment that was patently illegal right from the start.

Pangarkar ordered that the judgment was effective immediately.

Knysna Council held a special council meeting on Wednesday 15 May to appoint an acting municipal manager while the recruitment process for a new municipal manager is again set in motion. Pangarkar had directed the council to readvertise the position.

"It is unfortunate that we sometimes have to communicate through the courts to a council, but we also understand the dire consequences of having unqualified and unsuited individuals in critical positions in a municipality," Bredell said.

"We will remain firm on the minimum requirements and procedural requirements as set out in law, and councils should reacquaint themselves with these before embarking on recruitment to avoid the steps that we have had to take on this matter."

He said the length of time and legal costs to reach this point are unsustainable, and better consequence management is needed to deal with such cases.

Business chamber weighs in

The Greater Knysna Business Chamber (GKBC) has called on the Knysna Council to "prioritise strong leadership skills, competence, experience, and integrity in the selection of the next municipal manager".

Jan van der Westhuizen, chairperson of the GKBC, said the appointment demands careful consideration free from political interference and should rather be a "quest to identify a visionary leader who has the town's best interests at heart".

"Careful consideration should be given to ensuring that agreement is reached by all political parties in order to stabilise the position ensuring a long-term appointment," said Van der Westhuizen.

"We believe that the right municipal manager can drive positive change, enhance service delivery and contribute to Knysna's growth. Our town deserves leadership that puts Knysna first. Let's appoint someone who can lead us toward a prosperous future. Let's choose wisely."

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