At the Aug 25 meeting of the Knysna Town Council, there was confusion over what the composition of the Disciplinary Committee should be. The situation resulted in interesting statements by the town’s leaders.

The confusion was over whether the committee was supposed to be comprised of 6 members /or/ 3 members with 3 alternates (in case any were unavailable).

Municipal Manager (MM) Grant Easton made the remarkable statement that he was unsure as their hadn’t been a meeting of a disciplinary committee during his period as MM.

Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies agreed, saying that the problem experienced during her terms of office was that councillors from both sides were reluctant to be on such a committee.

Considering repeated scandals involving questionable activities and decisions by councillors, it’s decidedly odd that there haven’t been disciplinary hearings. That’s underlined by previous councillors having not wanted to be on the committee because popularity was more important to them than duty and doing right.

It was decided to make it 6 members but, if the committee ever does pursue justice against their fellow councillors, it will run into delay if just one doesn’t attend because no alternates were listed.