In today’s issue of the Knysna-Plett Herald’s SMS section, someone texted: “The Mayor could not wait for the ISDF report as she needs a captain for her ship. Hope it’s not a pirate ship.”

The appointment of Grant Easton as Knysna’s Municipal Manager is arguably the most controversial since the DA took power in 2011. When the motion was carried through, it should have been a momentous occasion but the ONLY person to clap was Christopher Bezuidenhout, the well-paid Communications Manager who refuses to communicate with the public on the most important matters. This time was no different as his department refused to respond to the Knysna-Plett Herald when they gave the occasion the front page.

There are heavy clouds over Easton and stormy seas below him. That ship is likely to be tossed by legal action – a prediction that I expect to be true the same way I predicted 7 months ago that Easton would be forced upon us, against all reason. It will be legal action by citizens and not by the opposition because for all their inactivity, the ANC and COPE may as well be cheerleaders for the DA (not to mention that two ANC members are having their studies illegally paid for by the taxpayer courtesy of Grant Easton). We need actions and not words that they know will be dismissed as they are the minority.

I have already told you ‘Why Grant Easton Was Not Appointed’ when Mayor Wolmarans first tabled her motion in support of him. In ‘Grant Easton Must NOT Get Knysna’s TOP Job!’ and ‘The Arrogance of Knysna Mayor Georlene Wolmarans’ I explained why Easton was not suitable for the job and the questions that hung over him regards tenders and grants-in-aid. The Knysna-Plett Herald also pointed out that he didn’t qualify for the position as he didn’t speak two languages as was required by the job advertisement which has to, legally, follow itself to the letter. Those are essential readings that should accompany today’s blog.

The Knysna-Plett Herald placed the appointment article under the header ‘Easton Captains the Knysna Ship’. Although the smiling photo of the ’Captain’ may seem friendly, the content supports the irregularities I’ve previously detailed e.g.

• “The vacancy for municipal manager was first advertised in November and Easton was not one of the 26 applicants. However, the Knysna Council decided in December to broaden their horizons in the search for an equity candidate and re-advertised the vacancy.”
• “…executive mayor Georlene Wolmarans withdrew her recommendation to appoint him, citing as a reason for her withdrawal the fact that she had not yet received a detailed ministerial report on the governmental investigation into the Knysna Municipality’s tender process which resulted in Knysna Creative Heads Consortium (KCHC) being appointed to steer the Integrated Strategic Development Framework (ISDF).”
• Councillor Litoli was quoted as saying, “We said then (in December) that we were undermining the issue of equity [and] re-advertised. The fundamental reason was because we needed, ideally, an African female or male. Now you tell us that we must appoint number one (Easton). Number one is not an equity candidate.”

Twice previously, the Mayor justified her actions with ’reasoning’ which she’s now decided to dismiss without explanation. It’s absolute that she lied to Knysna and then acted totalitarian by failing to explain to the Council or the public. The DA utterly failed Knysna because, by rights of their duty to us, they should have passed a motion of no confidence in the Mayor and called a revote. Lying also breaks the Councillors Code of Conduct which Speaker Eleonor Spies is supposed to uphold.

Wolmaran’s and the Undemocratic Alliance’s appointment of Grant Easton is not an honourably defiant, Dead
Poet’s Society “My Captain, My Captain” moment. It’s an insidiousness working against the public, an act by the
pirates who loot our town in defiance of the Law.