Knysna Ward 8

Knysna Ward 8 .

22/08/2024

DA in Knysna votes against council resolution to write off GEI’s rates debt
by Levael Davis - DA Knysna Caucus Leader

Date: 22 August 2024
Release: Immediate

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna today voted against a Council proposal to write off a significant portion of Grey Elephant Investments' (GEI) rates debt which allegedly amounts to between R40 and R60 million. The proposal, brought to Council and approved by the ANC/PBI/PA/EFF coalition agreed that a final payment of R10 million be paid by GEI to settle its arrears.

This decision is a slap in the face to honest ratepayers in the Knysna Municipality, and significantly undercuts Knysna’s Municipal cashflow in an already strained financial environment. This interference in rate collection sets a dangerous precedent for Municipal financial management and ultimately inhibits the municipality from providing services to its residents.

Knysna cannot afford to grant rate holidays and exemptions to residents purely because they are the Mayor’s friends and cronies.

As part of this agenda item, the DA made an alternative proposal aimed at recovering the full amount owed to the Municipality. Our proposal included:

1. Noting the status report on Grey Elephant Investments, the Rex Hotel, and The Gallery Body Corporate.

2. Rescinding all previous resolutions related to these entities.

3. Handing over the account to the Municipality's Debt Collectors for full recovery.

4. Ceasing payments to Grey Elephant Investments for office accommodation lease.

5. Investigating the Executive Mayor's conduct for potential breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

Regrettably, our proposal was rejected by the majority ANC/EFF/PA/PBI coalition and proves that this government is only interested in protecting the interests of politicians and those connected to them over the residents of Knysna.

Moving forward, the DA will now consider taking potential legal action against the Municipality, including raising this matter with Provincial Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell, as it may violate the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA).

The DA remains committed to transparent financial management in Knysna in the interests of its residents. We will continue to advocate for the fair treatment of all ratepayers, and responsible financial management to rescue Knysna from the coalition of corruption.

Media Enquiries:

Levael Davis
DA Knysna Caucus Leader

Matthew Sims
DA Media Officer
081 066 1041

20/08/2024

*DA tables motion to dissolve Knysna council*
by _Ryan Smith - DA Constituency Head for Knysna_

*Date:* 19 August 2024
*Release:* Immediate

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna, in terms of Section 34 of the Municipal Structures Act 1998, tabled a motion to dissolve the Knysna Municipal Council and allow for fresh elections to be held in the municipality.

We submit this motion as it is the only remedy to the over-fragmentation of the current Council make-up, which has rendered it impossible to elect and sustain a stable majority government with the interests of the residents of Knysna at heart.

We have considered every potential configuration under the current council make-up, and there is simply no pathway to a stable majority government for Knysna. The only way to rescue Knysna is for fresh elections to be held where a clear DA-majority can be elected that will no longer be vulnerable to instability as a result of the political opportunism and self-interest of unreliable coalition partners.

In addition, the motion seeks to bring an end to the current ANC/PBI/PA/EFF coalition which has ushered in the rapid collapse of service delivery in Knysna, inflicting untold damage on both its residents and the surrounding environment.

A dramatic drop in water quality and supply, electricity outages, the collapse of refuse removal and sewerage and waste water management, have placed the very lives of Knysna’s residents at peril. Over the past weeks, the levels of E-coli in the Knysna lagoon have exponentially surpassed acceptable levels due to the unchecked flow of raw sewerage into Knysna’s lagoon and estuary. With pollution levels so elevated, it is likely that Knysna will lose its blue flag status ahead of the 2024 high season, severely impacting the once thriving local tourism economy.

Furthermore, the collapse of Knysna’s refuse removal services in December 2023, warranted a full scale intervention by the DA-led provincial government to rescue the municipality from drowning in its own rubbish. This wholesale collapse in service delivery is due to the incompetent, unqualified, and unsuitable appointments made by the current coalition government since September 2022, which the DA had had successfully declared unlawful and reversed through successive court action.

The fact that Knysna has once again been voted Best Dorpie in the KFM Best of the Cape Awards is a testament to the Greater Knysna Business Chamber, the town’s residents, NPOs, and volunteers who remain committed to restoring our town to its former glory.

The DA has done everything to constructively engage the Mayor, municipal manager/s, and senior officials to ensure that Knysna is salvaged from further collapse. Instead, our relentless efforts have only been met with constant excuses of infrastructure collapse and sabotage, and no will or desire to action effective long-term plans to address the town’s rapid collapse.

The reality is that Knysna is too fragmented to elect a stable majority government under the current council configuration. The only way to resolve this problem is to dissolve the municipal council, call for fresh elections, and elect a DA majority government to bring back stable government and service delivery excellence to rescue Knysna.

*Media Enquiries:*

Ryan Smith
DA Constituency Head for Knysna

Address

Knysna

Telephone

+27630913767

Website

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