DA accuses own councillors of betraying Knysna Public
Knysna Mayor Eleanore Spies was removed from power in Knysna last night. The DA describes the dismissal of their Mayoral accomplice in Knysna as a coup, saying two of their own councillors are betrayers of the Public. That isn’t for them to decide for the people of Knysna (who can think for themselves without political help).
The DA’s statement on WhatsApp reads as follows:
“What transpired in the Knysna Council meeting yesterday was procedurally flawed. The DA will be challenging its legality. Two DA councillors [Mark Willemse and Peter Myers] decided to vote for an ANC motion of no confidence in the [DA] Mayor [Eleanore Spies] of Knysna. This is not only a betrayal of the DA but is a massive betrayal of the people of Knysna. Neither of these councillors had the interest of the people that we serve in mind. when they made this decision. They were being shortsighted and self-serving. The DA will take immediate action to rectify this situation so that we can get back to the business of providing world-class service to the people of the municipality.”
In conflict of interest, the notice was issued by Eden District Councillor Rowan Spies who lives with ex-Mayor Eleanore Spies and their children. Premier Helen Zille and the DA Federal Executive have failed to act on a forensic report alleging Rowan was involved in graft. It’s alleged that the Spies’ belong to Western Cape Leader Bonginkosi Madikizela’s faction within the DA. It’s notable that the DA’s Knysna FB page hasn’t even acknowledged the situation whilst Madikizela has declared that he’s on his way to Knysna (drive safe, don’t speed for the DA).
The DA is rich with sponsored funds and many lawyers. Maybe they find a flaw. News24 has already stated the DA angle which is “Section 3.5 of the DA’s constitution says that canvassing members to support an opposition party could result in the cessation of membership.”
With or without that, the DA will likely find a way to crush those 2 councillors. But the DA leadership is deliberately missing major points in order to deliver a lie for political interest and not the Public interest they claim.
1.
The majority of Knysna, at least 95% of what I’ve read on social media, is extremely happy at the dismissal of Spies. This isn’t an ANC cheerleader majority. It’s mostly white, conservative, DA-voting people who’ve become deadly disillusioned with corruption in Knysna. View these 4 posts as example:
a) Knysna Municipality – https://www.facebook.com/knysnamunicipality/photos/a.865632193553149.1073741831.828575533925482/1687883754661318/?type=3
b) Knysna Ratepayers Association – https://www.facebook.com/knysnaratepayers/posts/334037973793752
c) Knysna Politics Exposed – https://www.facebook.com/knysnapoliticsbasics/posts/1824917531138188
d) And my page – https://www.facebook.com/themikehampton/photos/a.1708986242517945.1073741828.1705346432881926/1722841487799087/?type=3
These happy people are congratulating the DA’s Mark Willemse for taking over the Mayorship. The DA is still in power but maybe the way its meant to be, by locals rather than by Cape Town.
2.
Myers and Willemse are Ward councillors. That means that they cannot be discarded to the dirt bin like proportional representative councillors (which are chosen by the DA, not the Public). If the DA cuts them via disciplinary hearing., it’ll force by-elections which the DA will lose. These councillors are in charge of the two richest wards in the town. They’ll likely start a new party which will control the swing vote. And, in response to Cape Town’s revenge on our small town, surely they will exclude the DA from the MAYCO so that the loss is even bluer.
3.
The DA isn’t playing smart and it isn’t delivering “world class service to Knysna”. All its done for years is practice cronyism, protecting crooks who’ve financially damaged the town. That cover-up implicates most of its national leadership which is why they’re continually making bad decisions in their zero sum game.