Let's Shoot Knysna's Protestors
Leon Naude, the chairman of the Knysna Ratepayers’ Association (KRA), has responded to the protests on the N2 in Knysna (Nekkies/Oupad area) by calling for live ammunition to be used.
His exact words were, “The police is to SOFT they should use rubber bullits or even better LIVE AMO our country is is not going to edge of the cliff WE are STADING ON THE EDGE.” The capital letters and bad spelling are his doing, not mine. He’s obviously serious that poor people who want the Knysna Municipality to listen to their plea for toilets should be shot.
Leon Naude
I was on the KRA with Leon Naude. When i quit i posted an open letter in which i said that, “Whether aware or unaware, some of the KRA committee members have an old-school, apartheid era attitude about them. I’m not calling them racists but it felt very much as an “us and them” approach. As a consequence, there was zero motivation to seek organisations from non-white areas to work with.” Naude’s attitude has now been made clear to the greater public but the KRA committee that has kept him as their leader for a year did so knowing what type of person he is – that says something negative about the KRA leadership!
I never named anyone in that letter but i will state now that Naude was the biggest racist of all. Additionally, his opposition to the mosque in Knysna was not because of a heritage site being the possible location but, apparently, because he was simply appalled at the notion of a mosque. [For full disclosure, note that i have a grievance with Naude because of him opposing me when i asked Helen Zille to answer questions about Knysna.]
Kevin Grinaker
Kevin Grinaker responded to Naude with, “Kosie? Can I borrow your D10 for two hours, please?” I do not know if by ‘D10’ he is referring to the Soviet tank or the Caterpillar bulldozer but the fact is that he was unconcerned by the call for violence. He was being supportive.
Until earlier this month, Grinaker was the Chairman of the Ward 10 (Knysna central) Committee. He is a fundraiser for the DA. This was the same man who illegally refused to accept my complaints regarding definite maladministration and possible crimes by DA politicians and the Knysna Municipality regards the ISDF tender and Knysna Tourism’s bankruptcy.
Their comments were posted beneath the Knysna-Plett Herald’s article, ‘Unrest on the N2’. In case they are removed or altered, here is the proof:
It is obvious that tragedies such as the Marikana Massacre and the Soweto Uprising of 1976 do not cause some to blink. Blinded by hate, maybe, ironically, they don’t see that their hatred is only likely to breed more hatred. What is certain is that these are not the kind of leaders Knysna needs or wants. These are the kind of people that cause problems, not solve them. They are not who we want quoted in our local newspapers as supposedly representing us and Knysna.
Kevin Grinaker is apparently leaving Knysna – good riddance.
Leon Naude, unfortunately, seems to be here to stay so i request that the:
- Knysna-Plett Herald never quotes him as a representative of Knysna again.
- Knysna Ratepayers’ Association not only removes him from the position of Chairman but also bans him from membership in the association. This is particularly addressed to committee members Richard Thorpe and Ian Uys.
It is painful to read such articles in a place like Knysna. It clearly shows that some people are not over the past wanting old apartheid tactics to control people of disadvantaged communities. And furthermore that nor the Mayor or Station Commander could not respond to such rubbish claims as they are the ones who always entertain complaints of KRPA.
Yes, it was very disappointing but at least we know that in this case something was done about it.
If Mr Naude’s comments are correctly attributed (and they seem irrefutable given their capture above), then these are disgraceful. They cannot be written off as a joke (in poor taste). There are many in Knysna’s white community who do so much to help the less well off, and to befriend black and coloured people in the township areas. This is one way in which trust is developed. But racist remarks by people in positions which are supposed to be respected, will soon reverse any gains if they are not wholeheartedly condemned. I can accept there is frustration about the tactics of blocking the N2 with burning tyres. But perhaps the (presumably) comfortable Chair of KRA could put himself in the position of people who share a ‘honey-bucket’ style lavatory with a few hundred others! Perhaps then he would show more solidarity with the protestors.
The remarks are definitely true and i’m pleased to say that a campaign to have him removed was successful.
I hate the fact that we suffer a lot from this poor environmental disaster with no formal structure.As a Knysna citizen I motivate you to keep revealing the true Identity of these hypocrites !!!! I love the person behind the hole article
That’s one of the goals: To give Knysna information that the government doesn’t give them. To try help them understand situations better and know who is controlling their lives.