You say goodbye, I say hello

KNYSNA NEWS - Two major shifts have occurred in the recent history of Knysna politics, with one official leaving and the other going.

Acting municipal manager Johnny Douglas and former mayor Eleanore Bouw Spies seem to be constantly alternating between being joined at the hip and bearing in different directions.

Their working relationship began in 2008 when Douglas served as MM during Bouw-Spies’ tenure as ANC mayor in Knysna. He was asked to leave by the DA in 2011 before the end of his contract. In 2016 he was appointed by the DA as acting municipal manager following the suspension of Grant Easton, again under Bouw-Spies.

Douglas was seconded to Bitou in January this year by Western Cape minister of local government Anton Bredell after municipal manager Thabo Ndlovu was placed on precautionary suspension following a forensic investigation into maladministration and misconduct by senior officials.

Douglas was set to be in the position for at least three months, but Bitou mayor Peter Lobese and his ANC coalition partners voted against the extension of Douglas' contract in April this year.

He returned to the municipality in July this year as acting MM and was granted a three-month contract, which has since been extended by another three months.

According to mayor Mark Willemse, Douglas informed council that he is only able to perform the duties of acting MM up until 7 January 2019, after which he has other commitments.

Willemse stated that this information was noted and that one of the directors of the municipality would assume the role of acting MM until a suitable replacement is found.

In the council agenda it was stated, "In the light of the above and the timeframe needed to conclude the recruitment and selection process for the municipal manager, it is recommended that an acting municipal manager be appointed for a period of three months."

It was not confirmed at the time of going to print which director would assume this position after 7 January 2019.

Meanwhile, former mayor and current Ward 5 councillor Bouw-Spies is expected to be inaugurated as councillor in the Garden Route District Municipality tomorrow (13 December) at a special council meeting, where it is believed that she will be elected into the position of Speaker.

Municipal spokesperson Herman Pieters told Knysna-Plett Herald that Bouw-Spies was absent at the last meeting due to illness, and thus the election of a Speaker did not take place as per the agenda. He added, "The election of a Speaker will take place at the next meeting,” Pieters said.

Eleanore Bouw-Spies is expected to be elected Speaker of the Garden Route District Municipality tomorrow.