Bredell faces backlash over proposed dissolution of Knysna Council at heated meeting

Municipalities must not be reduced to 'political footballs'; they must be safeguarded and entrusted with the dignity of its people.

These were the words of the South African Local Government Association's (Salga) Xolani Sotashe during their presentation before the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration in Knysna on Tuesday to solicit opinions on the attempt by Local Government MEC Anton Bredell to dissolve the Knysna Municipality and place it under administration.

The National Council of Provinces will have a special sitting on Friday where a decision will be made. 

Bredell wants to appoint an administrator to take over the duties of council, followed by fresh elections within 90 days to install new political leadership, citing service delivery issues. 

However the municipality has maintained visible progress is being made and investment is required to achieve its bigger goals of replacing the aging water and sanitation infrastructure. 

The robust meeting saw most stakeholders including taxi association, ratepayers associations and opposition parties reject Bredell’s move to dissolve council, citing political motives.

Sotashe said: “A budget has been adopted, the situation has improved, we are yet to see a recovery plan that was agreed upon in terms of key areas of consent, we agreed this is what you are going to do. What is more concerning, (is) national and provincial governments that are increasingly encroaching on the powers of local governments, instead of working collaboratively in the spirit of cooperative governance and providing ongoing support as defined in the constitution. A long list of municipalities are currently subjected to intervention, some of whom had interventions invoked more than once, others having been subjected to intervention four times already. Municipalities are often worse off during and after the intervention.”

Deputy Mayor, Morton Gericke from the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) said: “We as PBI will never support (this). MEC Bredell’s attempt to sneak the DA through a backdoor in order to control the Knysna municipality must be dismissed and rejected with the contempt that it deserves. He had an opportunity in 2024, he was asked by business people and certain councillors to dissolve (council). Why didn't he dissolve when the municipality was in such a state, now that there is improvement they want to come and dissolve. Give us some space. Give us some opportunity to serve our people.” 

Garden route ratepayers alliance added that they did not support the dissolution of the council. 

“We must recognise we have a new mayor, the mayor's office is functional, the speaker's office is functional, there are new directors of dissolving council is not going to solve the problems, an election is going to bring the same players back. The problem and rot lies deeper into administration and we (are) looking to the municipal manager to look into that.”

Knysna Independent Movement’s Susan Campbell said the dissolution of council would not solve the town’s problems. 

“Bringing in an administrator for 90 days until a new council is elected is not going to fix decades worth of infrastructure problems. It is a purely political option that was chosen by MEC Bredell,” said Campbell.

PA councillor Beauty Charlie added: “This intervention was supposed to take place in 2018 while the DA was in charge of this municipality, it never took place.”

DA chief whip, Sharon Sabbagh said they support the dissolution of council.

Bredell maintained he was upholding the law. 

“No politics, this is the law, we need to adhere to the law. The 139.1c (intervention) from where I sit was the last resort to save this municipality. A lot of the things we say it’s not to the current council, there’s new leadership now. From where I sit, 139.1c was the last option. Over the last three years (we have) supported them with engineers.”

Committee chairperson Mxolisi Kaunda said a decision would be made on Friday. 

“We are going to be processing the matters that are put before us. On Friday there will be a special sitting of the NCOP to conclude on this matter then we’ll inform you of the outcome. Public meetings (should) continue to take place, (so) communities understand how far you are going and faring to resolve matters before you as council. I close on a positive note, (to) acknowledge the work that has been done so far to improve service delivery. We want that to continue, we don't want that to end," Kaunda said. 

Cape Times