Knysna’s politicians were animals rather than representatives today. It would seem that duty and rules mean little, and that the plan to have our town lose its democracy means everything.

AN AWFUL MEETING

The main goal at today’s Special Council meeting was supposed to be to pass the annual budget. This is a legal requirement and obviously essential for a town in non-stop scandals that I believe are partly manufactured so the DA can seize power via provincial administration (which is DA-controlled).

The meeting on Zoom was slit-your-wrist painful. I dare you to watch or listen to it. If you manage to accomplish that remarkable feat, know there’s a part missing. The first attempt was this morning. After it took 15 minutes to do a roll call for 19 councillors, the meeting was adjourned because municipal workers had begun an unapproved protest outside the main municipal building which is where some of the councillors were connecting from.

DA BLACKMAILS KNYSNA AND SABOTAGES BUDGET

By the time the meeting continued in the afternoon, there was a new item on the agenda. This was a DA proposal for Councillors to hand over their powers to Acting Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz for 6 months. If you recall, Gratz resigned earlier last week, sprouting conspiracy theories… but never left the building. My request for her resignation letter has been ignored.

Michelle Wasserman

It’s unusual to have a last moment item included, and most of the ANC claimed they hadn’t read it. When Speaker Titi Gombo (ANC) refused to rearrange the schedule to make the DA’s motion the first on the agenda, the DA walked out, led by Michelle Wasserman. If you don’t know your history, Wasserman was parachuted from nowhere into Council by the Provincial DA who claimed she was their new Mayor (even though there was already one).

Councillor Claudine Croutz (ANC) said that, “The DA wants to put this town under administration. It cannot make us give up our democracy.” I beg to differ with Croutz. She forgets that the Western Cape isn’t part of South Africa, and is controlled by her opposition. They predetermined Premier Alan Winde’s rise to power, and probably did the same for Helen Zille’s return to (real) leadership. Wasserman is just an add-on. If they’re prepared to rig their own party, they will sure as hell try rig yours.

DA councillor Peter Myers backhanded cash to ex-ANC Councillor Velile Waxa before the elections. Waxa became their coalition partner, was protected after he threatened a woman and interfered in a tender, and was then jailed for the assassination of ANC Chief Whip Victor Molosi.

The DA has no problem with killing democracy. And they have the power to do so.

Effectively, there was no quorum which means that there weren’t enough councillors left to legally pass any item. Essentially, the DA blackmailed Knysna. They knew that they would win either way because the more problems they create, the more reasons the DA-led province has to take over the town.

ConGRATZ

Instead of accepting that they’d been outmaneuvered, the ANC spent too much time illegally pretending they had a quorum and passed two items (which didn’t count).

The DA may have been gone but Acting Municipal Manager Michele Gratz was there for them. She constantly reminded the ANC that there weren’t enough people. She was supported by Melony Paulsen, the municipality’s legal adviser.

The DA, when they used to be in charge, never fired Paulsen despite her role in maladministration and crime as detailed by the De Swardt investigation which I exposed after the DA and another municipal manager had kept it hidden. Winde committed perjury about it in the Provincial legislature and ANC Provincial Leader Cameron Dugmore has refused to hold him to account.

Today’s motion by the DA to make Gratz the puppet dictator of Knysna appears too well put together to have been composed in Knysna. It’s possible that it originates from the Western Cape Government which, if true, would make this not only a conflict of interest but also an attempted coup d’état.

It’s unsurprising that two people have already smsed me the “ConGratz” nickname. It’s like being congratulated because you crashed your car and only two of your passengers died.

Another Special Meeting will attempt to pass the budget in 7 days time.

WARNING

I’m not one of those politicians trying to win you over with smiling lies. I’d rather you despise me if I manage to stab the truth into you. These are urgent times so I keep the knife handy.

The plot to take over Knysna is thickening. I haven’t told you everything as I fear my daily crisis blogging may make you numb. And I’m sure as hell not going to keep updating you if you sit on your arse whilst bitching nothingness on Facebook.

I reiterate that my Knysna readers are most to blame for the current mess – you ignored the corruption for 9 years. This is the result. The politicians have been pulling your strings far longer than Gratz’s – she’s only the latest in a never-ending theatre of pigs at the trough of power and big salaries. Knysna is your home, not Gratz’s.

Looking at our history, if the DA took over, you wouldn’t care how much they stole so long as the pothole in your road got fixed. The DA sure know how to win over us white folk.

But I can hope for something better… can I?