Dear Melony Paulsen, you’re not supposed to be the guard dog of the politicians. You’re supposed to be the watchdog lawyer of the public…

This is for readers following the Knysna Communication scandal.

These emails were meant to be in-house. Considering Mayor Eleonore Bouw-Spies’ defamation of me, i share what was “said” between Knysna Municipality Legal Adviser Melony Paulsen and myself…

Do you consider me to be reasonable or threatening? Do you consider her to be evasive or helpful?

I’ll post them further below but first note the reason why i ask.

The Mayor’s press stated that: “Despite this Hampton chose to not only ignore [the Municipality’s self-proclaimed transparency], but also make serious accusations against the Legal Advisor, Acting Municipal Manager and Communications Manager whom he accuses of supporting and trying to cover up corruption. While the Knysna Municipality recognises Hampton’s right to free speech, his blog postings should not be confused with mainstream journalism which requires a higher level of procedural and ethical standards.”

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From: Love Knysna – Mike <mike@loveknysna.com>
To: KM Legal – Melony Paulsen <mpaulsen@knysna.gov.za>

Melony, unfortunately, i seem to be still being given the runaround by your department and, by default, Acting Municipal Manager Carl Mattheus, Eleonore Bouw-Spies and you, the Legal Adviser for the Knysna Municipality.

Please don’t push your responsibility onto a junior. It was you who were vague at our meeting and you who chose to leave the room when i kept trying to get answers.

Reading those SCM sections (SCM policy is clause 19.5.11 and Regulation 36 of the SCM Regulations) seems to only prove that Kirsten’s appointment is illegal.

Please tell me exactly which point in those sections you, Melony Paulsen, believes validates the appointment.

Where is Fredri Kruger’s [Supply Chain Manager in Financial Department] reasons for the deviation?

Where is the original contract for Fran Kirsten (from Grant Easton) and the new contract (signed by Carl Mattheus).

I’ve yet to receive justification for Bezuidenhout’s move.

Are making this an inquiry rather than an enquiry?

This never had to become a drama. Please choose to be helpful.

Either you have the relevant info or the goal of that meeting was to bamboozle me and the public. Which is it?

Mike Hampton
Knysna, the Prettiest Town in South Africa

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On 08/09/2016 10:17, Melony Paulsen wrote:

Dear Mike

Kindly take note that I was out of office for work related matters and only returned to work today.

All correspondence regarding our complaints procedures, you have addressed to Marilyn Botha. These were not requests directed to me, which I delegated to Ms Marilyn Botha, our Legal Advisor.

We respectfully submit that we have responded to your queries and provided you with the relevant information relating to complaints received by members of the public. We have even gone as far as to provide you with the names of members of the disciplinary committee responsible for dealing with complaints relating to the breach of the code of conduct for councillors. Ms Marilyn Botha advised that there are no outstanding e mails which she received directly, that remains unanswered.

I have yet to see any queries to my office relating to the appointment of Ms Kirsten or a request from you to respond on issues relating to supply chain. This is the first.

As I have been out of office for three days, I have numerous other pressing matters to attend to. I will respond to your query relating to SCM procedures,in due course

Melony Paulsen Manager: Legal Services

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From: Love Knysna – Mike <mike@loveknysna.com>

Melony, you seem to only be extending the false representation begun by that meeting, false now because you were at the meeting to address the queries. You failed to answer them then.

Furthermore, it’s questionable that the possibility of cronyism or, at the least, maladministration involving high-ranking officials isn’t considered pressing by you.

Again, point out specific rules that justify the irregular appointment of Fran Kirsten and Christopher Bezuidenhout.

If this matter could simply be put to rest, as should be the choice option for all of us, why is it that the Knysna Municipality and Mayor are not doing so?

I keep giving those involved the opportunity to calm the waters but no one wants to. Sending me irrelevant information isn’t being helpful, it’s the opposite. It’s reasonable for me to be suspicious. Suspicion makes me press harder for accountability. It makes me wonder more about each person involved. Consequently, i’m digging.

Returning to that meeting, you were of the opinion that the Speaker and Council don’t have a time limit on responding to complaints. Do you reaffirm that position or will you show me rules to the contrary?

I am a fierce advocate of transparency and local government paying respect to the Constitution and law. Melony, do you feel the same way as me?

From almost all my encounters with the Administration and Council, i’m very concerned that the health of the public isn’t being respected as the most important part of government.

Are you foremostly accountable to the public or to the Administration and politicians? I request that you genuinely answer that, both personally and from a legal standpoint.

Thank you.

Mike Hampton
Knysna, the Prettiest Town in South Africa

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Is it possible that the top minds in the Knysna Municipality couldn’t give me definitive answers at that meeting with Mayor Eleonore Bouw-Spies 11 days ago.

Is it realistic that they couldn’t find answers since?

At the time of this blog, its been 5 days since the above email to Melony Paulsen. In between, Mayor Eleonore Bouw-Spies issued that misleading press release against me.

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