Cape Town - Tensions are brewing in Knysna after several motions of no confidence brought by the Patriotic Alliance saw the DA-led coalition fall from power in the town.
The coalition was removed after several motions of no confidence against the mayor, deputy mayor, speaker and chief whip were brought during a special council meeting last week.
The DA’s constituency head in Knysna, Dion George, charged that the motions had nothing to do with service delivery, but rather concerned“narrow self-interest”.
“PA is now in a coalition government with ANC/EFF/(Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners) in Knysna – a coalition of corruption that will destroy our town. They removed a capable government and mayor so that they can loot our town.
They will bankrupt Knysna without doubt,” he said.
The ANC’s Aubrey Tsengwa was elected the new mayor, with Alberto Marbi of the PBI as his deputy, and the ANC’s Mncedisi Skosana the municipal speaker.
Knysna United’s Ralph Stander said they rejected the notion that the new leadership was there only “to loot and steal”.
“As matter of fact, we reject that notion that black people (are) only there to steal, and that white people are better and angels sent from heaven above.
It is a fact that lots of the corruption and maladministration that happened at Knysna municipality happened under the watch of the opposition.
“It was the opposition who called the coloured community hooligans. The opposition must be truthful and say the reason why they cry is because they are now losing high salaries, fancy offices, titles, travelling, and lots of perks and benefits,” he said.
The ANC’s head of communications, Sifiso Mtsweni, said the “most corrupt” organisation was the DA.
“The DA is hypocritical. It is collapsing in all municipalities where it governs in coalition. Smaller parties are waking up to the farce that the DA is.
Smaller parties are waking up to the farce that the DA is. It bullies coalition partners to further (its) racist agenda and fails to live up to its own agreements. The most corrupt organisation is the DA. This is becoming apparent day in and day out,” said Mtsweni.
The SACP’s district secretary in the Southern Cape, Langa Langa, said the election of a new government should be an opportunity (for the ANC/EFF/PBI coalition) to serve the people of Knysna with diligence and humility.
“There are a lot of challenges facing this municipality, (and) therefore priority must be made of nothing else but servicing the people of this town, particularly the poorest section of the Knysna community.
For stable governance in this municipality, everything must be transparent, fair and just, and must be communicated amongst (the) parties,” he said.
Cape Times