Dear Helen Zille, is the DA Rotten? (Part 2)
Part 1 of this letter here.
The only option that seemed available was for me to force them to give answers by airing dirty laundry and shaming them. It worked. It is the only reason why they met me! So, in the letter, when Georlene Wolmarans pretends to be reasonable by saying that she, Deputy Mayor Michelle Wasserman and Councillor Esmé Edge met me, it’s truly bullshit. Worse, I was told by Michelle Wasserman that I would get all the answers at that meeting. I even specified that the meeting would be a waste if they did not provide who was in fact getting what monies from Tourism. She told me that they’d have it for me. They didn’t. Lie. They never gave me any other answers at that meeting so Georlene lied again in that letter. I was told that I was asking good questions and that I should consider that as the first meeting with more to come, with Michelle Wasserman, as the mayor had delegated her to deal with it – LIE! That was 40 days ago and she’s never met me again. What it really was was a stonewalling tactic.
The same nonsense applies to Councillors Magda Williams and Esmé Edge. Magda and I got along very well at the only meeting we 
had. She’s a warm person so I found myself treating her to lunch with the last money I had. Our meeting had nothing to do with my previous queries. It was simply to discover what plans she had for Knysna regards community development and arts and culture. Besides Women’s Day, she had no plans (!) and only spoke about Hornlee, the suburb she comes from, rather than Knysna as a whole. I suggested my ideas which made her excited and enthusiastic, with her insisting that I had to meet the committee she headed and that we would do good things together. I haven’t heard from her again and she doesn’t respond to messages. Same applies to Esmé. She also appears to have a good heart which is why i never highlighted her on my blog but now I will have to. We’d had positive communication, including a meeting with sufficient discussion that it extended into dinner. But now she too doesn’t respond.
I’m assuming that Mayor Georlene and Deputy Mayor Michelle, their superiors, have locked me out to all. Maybe even Alan Winde, considering the timing? Sadly, Magda’s and Esme’s good hearts do not count enough – we desperately need leaders, not sheep. Knysna is in great need. They should be doing what they believe to be right.
During these encounters with our so-called leaders, about a dozen so far, I was scared to discover how little they knew about Knysna. There’s the odd exception where personal gain (!) seems to be the motivator overacting on knowledge, but, either way, I realized that Knysna was in much bigger trouble than the recession was telling us.
My questions grew, much found at those links I shared with you above. Many of those should have been questions that our “leaders” should have been asking. What my blogs can’t express sufficiently is the frustration that so many are experiencing with trying to deal with the Knysna Council. Why doesn’t truth about our town have value to the DA!
Before I round off, let me return to Alan Winde. Alan, like others beneath you and before you, you explained the inability to get some answers was owing to the fact that Knysna Tourism is a Section 21 company as if it’s beyond the DA’s control. That’s ridiculous. Knysna Tourism is contracted by the Knysna Municipality which the DA is in charge of. It gets approximately R4 million budget from the municipality so some oversight, for the citizens of Knysna, is obligatory. The relationship is as incestuous as it gets. Both the municipality and Tourism utilize the same PR person. 2 DA members, Deputy Mayor Michelle Wasserman and Councillor Esme Edge, are on the all-White, 7-member Tourism Board. And who, that I’m questioning, are their cronies?
Relatedly, Georlene’s letter uses my meeting with Reggie Smit, Director of Corporate Services, as further substantiation of their co-operation. The reality is that I set up the meeting with Reggie, not the DA. Reggie’s conversation with me was helpful and informative but when I received his email, which was after I had told Michelle Wasserman that I’d met him, his tone had changed and he too resorted to illogical terminology such as “not within my mandate.” Ridiculous again as it’s his department that approves the Tourism budget. In fact, they receive a monthly budget statement from Knysna Tourism that they do not analyze. Yes, I do imply that the DA council told him not to co-operate. The irony, which Reggie may be unaware of, was in a conversation with Georlene on that very UNDEMOCRATIC day that got rid of Municipal Manager, Johnny Douglas (i have no love for him but knowing why does count as does knowing what he got paid and if Lauren Waring, his stand-in, is being paid more atop her salary?). Georlene was in a victorious mood because of the news and shared it with me. She also promised me that I would now be first on her agenda (by the way, another damn lie as she never spoke to me again). The irony part is that I mentioned that I would be following up on Reggie to which her response, as if he was being targeted or not to be trusted, was that I mustn’t speak to him but to Lauren in future.
Alan, I did appreciate the calls and the fact that you did not rush them but I must stand up for myself and the truth of the situation. It concerned me that you began the conversation by telling me that you had a meeting with Knysna Tourism, the DA and the Knysna Chamber of Business and that my “brand” is bad with them and that they had nothing good to say. I’m querying the morality of the first two, why would they? And I’ve met twice with the Chamber of Business who were concerned that my blogging the bad may dissuade new business. They asked if I would do the opposite. I said that I already did but I would do more if I first got answers. They don’t disagree with my questions but have their own role which is to try to establish a relationship with the municipality. What would be more productive is you reading the details of my email and targeting the issues. A return mail, a response, would be welcomed. You don’t have to get me answers. You’re a “boss”. Helen, you’re the BIG boss. Why isn’t the quick resolution to spend 30 minutes reading, then ask the Knysna DA to explain themselves in writing to you, and then, if my position is found to have merit, to tell them to do their job and co-operate?
I am a human with faults. I can’t say that I’m like most people but, in that respect, i am normal. I am broke which identifies me with many too. I don’t pretend airs. I am straight forward and, deliberately, after having no success and getting no answers, after encountering the DA’s indecencies, I chose to be an extremely straight talker which, incidentally, was part of how I, when giving advice many years ago, earned my nickname, “Wicked Mike”. I am, as said, angry. Anger does not negate my citizenship. Neither does frustration and the will to fight for transparency. They do not make me unreasonable or mad. They do not remove reasoning. I “reiterate” this as I’ve sent strong words, via email and sms, not impulsively but deliberately as a response to each delay or lie. I told them face to face as well i.e. Each time you fail to act, I will react stronger than before. That is a threat (I’m not going to use diluted language here). I even told them what I’d do next, further emphasizing that the goal was to get them to act. I told them I’d blog about them – I did. I told them that I’d contact the opposition – I did. I told them that I’d email further and higher – I did. I said that I’d criticize the DA on a national level with Knysna as an example – I have and will do more. I said that I will distribute flyers and erect individual websites for each lying councillor, and for each main problem in Knysna – I haven’t yet but will unless something positive and truthful happens this week.
Again, my choice was simple, give up or fight. I never wanted to fight. I wanted to commit to community projects and make Knysna a town for all. I wanted to lessen apartheid in our beautiful town. I wanted to deliver slices of happiness in these tough times. I definitely didn’t want to type lengthy emails like this…way more than you didn’t want to read this tome:) Although I believe that this struggle against the Knysna DA will eventually help the residents, I use the past tense because I’ll have chopped off most roads with my actions – this is, too often, a crony town. But, at the very least, I’ll hopefully have opened the can of worms so that others can go fishing later.
If you’ve visited www.KnysnaKeep.org, you’ll hopefully have gained a broader perspective of me. And if you go to www.LoveKnysna.com and www.GardenRouteConcerts.com, you’ll find another 100 blogs initiated by me. Over the next month, I’ll list all Knysna schools at www.KnysnaSchools.co.za. Those have all been for free. Furthermore, I ghostwrote 10 Tourism articles. I hosted 2 workshops and an eventing forum. The entertainment industry may have collapsed this year but in the preceding year and a half, I brought more outside bands in than anyone else. I believe in Knysna being online so as to gain a bigger presence. To that end, I’ve helped people start blogs and websites. That has ranged from free to ridiculously low prices. All that in only 2 years.
i.e. I LOVE KNYSNA! That is a fact.
There is no grand solution to these tough times. We have to adjust to our new reality and use what we have as best as we can. It’s “bizarre” that instead of co-operation towards a better Knysna, the DA has chosen to make me the enemy. With that view, added to all of the above, I can definitely answer my question, “Yes, the Knysna DA is rotten.”
The goal is truth, transparency, accountability and a Knysna for all colours of people. Do you believe in that too?
I had my own spat with the DA in Cape Town. I recognise the stonewalling attitude, which goes all the way to the top (Hi Helen!). If you disagree with any one of them, they immediately rally round. It culminates in a conspiracy of silence. If you persist, you are immediately classed as a nuisance and they block Facebook, Twitter etc.
It’s an exercise in frustration dealing with the DA. They never stand up to their ideals, frequently ignore questions and behave the same as any other politicians in SA (with a very few exceptions).
As was previously advised – use your talents for better and grander things. The DA is in the gutter, so don’t stoop to their level.
It’s standard tactics the world over but i had hoped for more from the DA. South Africans, no matter the changes, are far too opinionated along racial lines. Here, it meant that Whites, for far too long, gave the DA a free ride. Of course, it was easier for the DA to get away with that as a small opposition but since growth in the last election, the cracks are showing.
I don’t care what party a person is from so long as they make an effort to fulfill their duty to the public. I want politicians to earn their salary.
Thanks for your input, Sean.
If you are serious about changing what you perceive to be wrong there are ways to it. But beating your head against a wall is just painful. You have to set up structures which will last. Structures that will work. And that’s the challenge.
No. They need leaders who lead by example and sadly the only leader worth any air time is merely a buffoon, albeit a dangerous buffoon. That’s what we for or in my case fought against. So where did it all go wrong? What are the issues we should be looking at. Can we not go to source and start again? What are you hoping to achieve? Are you going to put yourself forward as an independent candidate come the next election? Did you vote in the last election? Why do not join the Residents Association? How about the Chamber? Are these bodies not part of that structure?
Yes, imagine if a moralist had the same passion as Malema.
Life is so hard that i cannot imagine elections in 5 years time. I can’t see next month. Even if we lived in paradise then, i’d have pissed off too many greedy and selfish people, many the powers that be, along the way.
I’d hoped to do something with the Knysna Chamber of Business but after our mails over the past day, i fear not. They’ve thrown their lot in with the DA and i believe that without black business members they will never represent Knysna properly. Nevertheless, in their own way, at least they are trying to make a difference. I have to respect that to a degree as we’re very short on active people in our town.
I don’t even know of a Resident’s Association in my area so if there is one then they’re not been effective enough. I rent, water and electricity included, which theoretically makes me not a ratepayer. But i did contact the Ratepayer’s Association but don’t think they have any teeth and doubt, like most organizations here, that they have much membership. I have met others too but they are generally ignored by the arrogant municipality which does what it wants.
I don’t understand. I spent ten years desperately trying to scupper the aspirations of the majority of the citizens in this country and the last twenty five years trying to figure out why I could have been so stupid. I also understand that we do in fact have the right to vote and the structures to change whatever we need to change. So why this call to action? Where has it all gone wrong?
Because the majority of people voted for a party according to skin colour instead of for agenda. I’ve questioned so many people regarding the reasons for their choice and hardly any knew what the political agenda was for their own town. That’s Stupidity which ensures irresponsible, self-serving government. The public needs to vote with Reason.
Dear Wonderful Mike
Did Mandela give up and retract to his comfort Zone ? No, never
Did Lincoln or Ghandi or Mother Theresa, no never
Keep it up and become the Wikky – Leak – Mike. Lets not EVER allow “them” to steal our hard earned democracy or taxpayers money and dictate lies to us. EXPOSE ‘them” around each corner. It happened in Pluto’s time well before BC
In 1840 a young man ran for the USA Presidency and soon thereafter remarked as follows; “We have learnt by sad experience that it is the disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they immediately start exercising unrighteous dominion.”
Nothing has changed in 3000 years. We owe it to our posterity
The ONLY way forward as i see it is to elect INDEPENDANT cllrs that we can personally hold responsible, not a person that does NOT care for his constituents, as much as he cares for his salary and arrogant and corrupt Party Bosses. That about says it all. Oudshoorn, Kannaland and many other Western Cape Municipalities have the same problem with the DA and ANC, WHY? Because of poor performance and arrogant and untruthful statements. Expose it, it is our DUTY. Until such time the whistle blower is BELIEVED and not victimised, so as to hide their own “crimes” we have to thrust forward, both regardless and rewardless !! STERKTE !!
Thanks, Andre. This blog has had over a lot of views but you’re one of the few who have spoken online. The rest want to complain in the street which is frustrating because the only way to improve our lives and our towns is to stand together. It’s simple mathematics – 10 people can do more than 1. What could 100 do? And in small towns, as little as 1500 people could toss a politician out of office.
Our politicians justify themselves by pointing figures at the opposition so that their own actions aren’t as important. It’s as ridiculous as the public, whose apathy is responsible for them being in office, generally siding with parties according to colour. Action is the only thing that counts. Yes, bring on more independent Councillors until the DA and ANC find a conscience and realize that it is PUBLIC service. We do not serve them which, sadly, is the current status quo.
We see the same threat. We both see the need for an alternative. What we don’t agree on is that path to change. Time will tell.
Time tells all.
They are just a mirror reflection of the society around you. Face it they are real. They have been elected and they are no different to the previous lot. You are the one that is out of step. Aren’t you the lucky one. Do you want what they have got? What is it that keeps drawing you back? Rather put as much distance between them and you, as you can.
JuJu is real. He is the face of tomorrow. Do you see yourself as being a party to that? If you want to be part of the change you have to change and learn to walk away from stuff you can do nothing about. Why embrace Waste? It’s a waste of time, a waste of effort and more importantly a waste of opportunity. You will never achieve what you want to achieve if you allow them to pull the strings.
Our future is bleak but i’d rather aim for that sliver of hope than give up. If i fail, it is important to me that i know that i tried. It is apathy that has gotten us here, a joint effort by all races. What is happening is a consequence of our indifference. As the famous quote about WW2 goes:
Mike you are wasting your time and your energy. Their collective incompetence is both energy sapping and soul destroying. When are you going to learn this? Face it, you have already been sucked in, chewed up and become part of their story. And its a sad story. One without an end.
Rather learn to work outside these structures. You don’t need them or the blame they carry so proudly with the trappings of their office. You will never be one of them. So be grateful for that fact and question what you can do, as you. The mistake you have made is to believe that the system is representative. It is anything but.
You have opened doors. But they don’t have any of the answers you are looking for. They never will. Take a step beyond all of this. You can write. You could even learn to communicate if you turned your mind to it. But first you need to turn your back on them and your attention to you. You need food. You need shelter. Thereafter you need a challenge. Cut them out of the picture. There is more than enough to be done. Productive work. Satisfying work.
Forget them. Never argue with the taxi driver. Someone who knows no better might mistake you as one of their own.
Maybe well meant but i disagree because i still have fight in me and will escalate, as promised. I am meeting with people outside their structures. Within my limited means, i do try commit to helping people when i can but nothing we will ever match the accomplishments that the Knysna Municipality can aspire to if forced to do their jobs or if, next time, we elect people who actually care about Knysna instead of themselves and their friends. The present DA cares as little about Knysna as the ANC before them. It is a problem with power. And if we accept their wrong actions then we are as guilty as them. Democracy is worth fighting for, especially in these incredibly tough times.