Update: DA to govern Knysna in coalition

KNYSNA NEWS - The inaugural meeting of the newly appointed Knysna council, held on Monday, August 15, was not without controversy.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies, former executive mayor under the ANC, was sworn in to lead the council once more, this time representing the DA.

The DA won six of the 11 wards in the greater Knysna area during the local government elections held on August 3.

In other words, the DA holds 10 of the 21 available seats in council and the ANC holds seven seats.

Cope holds one seat as does the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), while the Knysna Unity Congress (KUC) and independent councillor Velile Waxa have gone into coalition with the DA.

ANC proportional representation (PR) councillor Titi Elizabeth Gombo congratulated Bouw-Spies on her new position and said that the latter's current political allegiance was not a problem for the ANC, simply an example of democracy. She said it was no longer about party politics but rather about bringing the people of Knysna together.

Cope councillor Elrick van Aswegen also offered his support in all matters that benefit the people. However, both councillors agreed that the DA should be held accountable and that Cope and the ANC would certainly be a robust opposition.

The council chambers were filled to capacity with spectators showing their diverse political allegiances: they ululated and chanted as officials were sworn in, which municipal manager Grant Easton, who officiated the proceedings, regarded as "charming".

Later, once the newly elected speaker, former executive mayor Georlene Wolmarans, had taken her position, the crowd needed to be reminded that they were not permitted to participate in the debate and were expected to exercise due restraint as spectators.

ANC oppose structure of subcommittees

There was some confusion as to the structure and portfolio of subcommittees and the constitution thereof, which led to strong opposition from the ANC and Cope, who felt that the reduction in membership of these committees, from six to five members, was not fair as council had not played a role in making the decision.

Newly elected deputy mayor DA councillor Peter Myers said that an agenda had been issued to all parties, and that he felt it was the mayor’s prerogative to decide on how many members should form the committees in the interests of efficacy.

ANC councillor Mncendisi Skosana accused the DA of contravening the constitution. He proposed that it be put to the vote, which resulted in a vote in favour of five-seat subcommittees by the DA majority. The ANC elected not to participate in the formation of subcommittees until such time as it had been made clear who authorised the changes to membership quotas on said committees, as they believed there to be evidence of bias.

Myers said it was a travesty that the ANC was playing silly games, to which the ANC and Cope took exception. Van Aswegen (Cope) told Myers that he was insensitive toward the needs of the poor and pointed out that Cope and the ANC had been elected to represent the interests of the people in their wards, on the whole, the poorest of the poor.

Independent councillor Waxa, who has formed a coalition with the DA and thereby giving them the majority of seats in council, requested that the ANC change their position.

Bouw-Spies pointed out that declining to serve on committees equated to not serving their communities. She proposed that in light of the confusion surrounding the election of committee representatives, to allow those agenda points to stand over until the next council meeting, to give all parties an opportunity to apply their minds and come to a decision that best serves the people.

Due to the urgency of filling the two municipal council seats on the tourism committee, which continues with business as usual regardless of political changes, it was decided that the two seats should be filled immediately. Myers agreed to take one seat while the other was offered to ANC councillor Victor Molosi, who declined in line with the ANC decision not to participate until such time as there is clarity. As such, the seat was given to DA councillor Mark Willemse.

DA to now put manifesto into action
Bouw-Spies said they will now put their much publicised manifesto to work in governing Knysna on the following five pillars: the opportunity town; the safe town; the caring town; the inclusive town; and the well-run town.

"We already have an approved budget in place to ensure that we can fulfil all we promised within our election campaign manifesto," said Bouw-Spies.

She further gave the undertaking that the DA will persist in the efforts to foster growth and delivery within greater Knysna. "We will now continue our work towards a better future for all residents by delivering excellent services and achieving reconciliation through redress."

The mayor said that public participation is something she is passionate about. To her the effective handling of community queries and communication is of utmost importance. "The public participation and communications departments should sit side by side. Ward committee meetings should be attended by both. If matters are reported, discussed or decided on, there should be a communication strategy in place to ensure implementation is reported on and questions that arise get addressed. This is crucial and close to my heart."

Economic growth a priority

She added that economic growth within greater Knysna remains one of the priorities. "When we have economic growth in greater Knysna it creates job opportunities; this is why it is so important to continue to grow Knysna as a centre for business."

According to Bouw-Spies, the DA council also undertakes to stop corruption by increasing residents' awareness of their anti-corruption hotline and anti-fraud policy. The DA has already taken steps to tighten up their supply chain policy to comply fully with the relevant legislation.

In closing Bouw-Spies welcomed all to council and said that she is excited about the upcoming five years. "I welcome our opposition and look forward to vigorous debates. We are not scared of the opposition and know that through them greater Knysna will experience a completely transparent local government, one that abides by legislature and one that is free of corruption."

The new structure is as follows:

Mayoral committee
Executive mayor – Eleanore Bouw-Spies
Deputy executive mayor and chairperson: finance, governance and economic development – Peter Myers
Mayoral committee member: planning and integrated human settlements – Velile Waxa
Mayoral committee member: technical services – Levael Davis
Mayoral committee member: community services – Cathy Weideman

The new speaker of council is Georlene Wolmarans.

Municipal council
Ward 1 Levael Davis (DA)
Ward 2 Cathy Weideman (DA)
Ward 3 Mncendisi Skosana (ANC)
Ward 4 Velile Waxa (Independent)
Ward 5 Eleanore Bouw-Spies (DA)
Ward 6 Elrick van Aswegen (Cope)
Ward 7 Mandla Matiwani (ANC)
Ward 8 Victor Molosi (ANC)
Ward 9 Mark Willemse (DA)
Ward 10 Peter Myers (DA)

Ward 11 Donovan Pofadder (DA)

PR councillors

DA
Georlene Wolmarans
Luzuko Tyokolo
Martin Young

Sbusisu Kwinina

ANC
Ndoda Aubrey Tsengwa
Titi Elizabeth Gombo
Claudine Denise Croutz

Millicent Ntombise Naki

ACDP

Shakespeare Arends

KUC

Welcome Salaze

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