ANC questions DA MEC’s axing of speaker

LOCAL Government MEC Anton Bredell’s decision to axe Knysna speaker Mncedisi Skosana, who is also an ANC councillor, may be a continuation of the DA’s attempts to destabilise the coalition-governed municipality, says the ANC.

In what the opposition DA labels a "coalition of corruption", the ANC governs Knysna along with the EFF, Patriotic Alliance and the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI).

Bredell, also a senior DA member, said his decision emanated from findings into an investigation following complaints by interest groups who made “various allegations”.

“It was held that (Skosana) failed to perform the functions of his office in good faith, honestly and in a transparent manner and that he failed to act in the best interest of the municipality and that he conducted himself in a manner that compromised the credibility and integrity of the Municipality,”

Bredell said it was in this respect that he imposed the recommended sanction of removal of Skosana as a Councillor.

The report released last year was related to findings from “any adverse statements and findings against councillors of the Municipality made in the Henney judgment”.

“In the Henney judgment, the court had made a number of serious adverse findings against certain political office bearers and municipal officials in the Municipality. Many of these findings directly concerned or indirectly related to the incurrence of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and/or wasteful expenditure, as well as conduct that amounts to a breach of the Code of Conduct for Municipal Councillors,” the report noted.

His decision comes at a critical time for the municipality amid a water crisis with thousands of residents in several wards recently left with no or limited access to water for weeks.

The municipality would not respond to questions on how Bredell’s move would impact service delivery.

Knysna municipality spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhout said: “We acknowledge receipt of a letter from MEC Bredell on 23 May 2025. The letter will be tabled at the Ordinary Council Meeting scheduled for 30 May 2025. The election of a new Speaker will be determined by Council.”

The ANC in the Victor Molosi Region raised concerns over Bredell’s objectivity.

ANC spokesperson Moyisi Magalela said: “We are currently studying the contents of the report and its implications and we will engage with our legal representatives to consider all appropriate steps forward. It is important to note that Bredell is a senior politician and a member of the DA. In light of this, we question the objectivity and impartiality of the investigation and its outcomes. It is our considered view that the DA has continuously sought to destabilise the municipality, which is currently governed by a progressive coalition committed to service delivery and clean governance.

“Contrary to certain narratives, the courts have not ruled that the political appointments in question were unlawful. On the contrary, the ruling affirmed their lawfulness. This raises serious concerns about the credibility of the information upon which Bredell based his decision to remove Councillor Skosana from office. As the ANC, we will stand firmly behind our councillors and defend them through all available legal and political means.”

The DA welcomed Skosana’s dismissal, with constituency head for Knysna, Ryan Smith, saying: “Councillor Skosana’s dismissal comes as a result of the DA Knysna Caucus’ tireless multi-year fight to combat maladministration and corruption in our town. This included alerting the Provincial Department of Local Government of governance irregularities and misconduct. The matters raised by the DA Caucus include unlawful appointments of political staff, illegal payments to these staff despite a legal opinion warning against it; and breaches of the code of conduct for councillors.”

Skosana did not respond to a request for comment.

Cape Times