EFF jumps ship in Knysna, Deputy saves Mayor from unemployment

On Valentine’s Day, Councilor Neil Louw of the EFF brought a motion of no confidence in Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa of the ANC, which was carried with 14 votes in favor, including support from Tsengwa’s coalition partners (PBI, EFF, PA).

Deputy Mayor Alberto Marbi (PBI) was appointed Acting Mayor, with a new mayor required to be elected within 14 days. The council election must now commence, as usual for Knysna, amid a chaotic and divided council with no clear majority, and no fixed partisan blocs.

Aside from bringing down their own coalition, the EFF have provided some comic relief to the matter.

Denying the sky was blue at noon, Councilor Louw was adamant that the EFF was never part of the governing coalition and felt aggrieved that local activist group Knysna Unity included them under the common designator “coalition of corruption”, a moniker first employed by the DA.

Louw first made this bizarre claim after the first motion to remove the three condemned officials (introduced by KIM Councilor Susan Campbell), saying that he will “prove” that he is not part of the coalition, by initiating the Valentine’s Day motion himself, and to his credit, under significant pressure and threats from the ANC.

The outcomes are hard to predict, but due to the recommendations of the report commissioned by Anton Bredell, it is likely that a large number of seats will be up for re-election this year, opening up the possibility for an increased share for opposing parties, such as the DA, PA and EFF.

But in the meantime, the ANC-aligned Knysna coalition has acted swiftly to post Aubrey back up into the local admin. Acting Mayor Marbi of the local party BPI, found guilty last year in a major investigation last year, soon appointed Tsengwa to the Mayoral Committee, effective today.

The recent investigation was initiated by Western Cape Local Government Minister Anton Bredell following two high court rulings in 2022 that deemed the political appointments of eight office-bearers illegal.

Sparked by the ANC-led coalition’s actions after ousting the DA from power in Knysna on 31 August 2022, former councillor Julie Lopes and the DA challenged the appointments, leading to the court cases and subsequent investigation.

The 430-page report by investigators Advocate Trisha Sarkas and Deirdré Viljoen identified serious breaches of conduct among the mayor, deputy mayor, speaker (Mncedisi Skosana – ANC), and seven other councilors.

Findings included giving false evidence under oath, committing fraud on the court, and failing to act in the municipality’s best interests. They recommended removal of Tsengwa, Marbi, and Skosana from office due to persistent dishonesty and misconduct.

Financial sanctions (25% deduction from monthly allowances for three months) were also recommended for the implicated officials and seven councilors: Kay Andrews, Russel Arends, Beauty Charlie, Mboneli Khumulwana, Neil Louw, T Matika, and Phindile Petros.

If removals proceed, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will manage vacancies through by-elections or party nominations. Acting Mayor Marbi stated the matter is under legal review and refrained from further remarks.

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