“You are so obviously being targeted… A huge smear campaign which I am sure you are well aware of. I have it on good authority that the DA are actively trying to get you out, by whatever means possible – again, I’m sure no big news to you. I just can’t believe the scale of it. What I am surprised about is the amount of fear involved. People are petrified to stand up. I have watched cases where residents lives have been made unbearably difficult and impossible…” – Candace Myers.

Above is one of the issues I’d hoped to discuss with Candace Myers, an active DA constituent whose on the Brenton Ratepayers’ Association’s committee. Her husband is Peter Myers, the Chairperson of the Knysna DA Constituency and Deputy Mayor of our town.

The illogical emails below are indicative of how ridiculous the DA has been and how Candace Myers chose to make reasonable conversation impossible:

THE LATEST EMAILS

On Mon, 17 Apr 2017 at 6:43 AM Love Knysna – Mike <mike@loveknysna.com> wrote:

This is to offer you both a recorded interview so as to understand your changed DA attitude, political relations and role in the DA Constituency.

Matters such as the ISDF, propaganda, your administration of the DA’s Facebook page, the KRA, Brenton Ratepayers’ Association etc.

If you are keen to clear up many important matters, please respond within 24hrs.

Thank you.

PS: Candace, your husband, Deputy Mayor Peter Myers, isn’t invited. This is about you.

* * * * * * *

On 17/04/2017 10:02, Candace Myers wrote:

I would be happy to meet with you, but I need you to be open and not come with your usual preconceived thoughts and ideas.

* * * * * * *

On Mon, 17 Apr 2017 at 10:07 AM Love Knysna – Mike <mike@loveknysna.com> wrote:

I have my questions, you have your answers. Because it’s recorded, people can judge for themselves whether the process was fair or not.

* * * * * * *

On 17/04/2017 13:01, Candace Myers wrote:

Well that depends on how it is edited. I’ve been to the same council meetings as you, and at times, your interpretation of reporting back is not what I hear. Anyway, I’ll meet you wherever and whenever. I’ll also record it.

* * * * * * *

On Wed, Apr 19, 2017 at 9:56 AM, Love Knysna – Mike <mike@loveknysna.com> wrote:

That’s a snarky remark. No one has ever disputed the recordings I’ve posted:

And you are welcome to record our meeting.

Next Wednesday, May 26, is the MAYCO. Those are normally short. So 10.30am at Wimpy.

Please confirm if that acceptable and tell me if Judy will be joining.

* * * * * * *

On 20/04/2017 11:02, Candace Myers wrote:

That’s the problem Mike, call something I say “snarky”. If it doesn’t agree with your reality – then you attack. I so wish that I could actually connect with you and discuss my point of view, I truly believe that all town’s need activists.

I have many issues and problems that I would love to discuss. Unfortunately you make it absolutely impossible. How do I go into a meeting knowing that if I say anything that you disagree with, or any comment about how you weave your own interpretation of stories into factual stories. You write stories that I know for a fact are incorrect and couldn’t be further away from the truth if you tried. However, it’s your reality, and you make up ill advised theories that you seem to think will weave your stories together.

The pity is that there is some truth in what you write – even if you don’t realize it, and that is lost because of your own pathetic attempts to create sides and pick on people you don’t like.

We have some excellent people in the municipality, and some in politics, and even some in our town, and sure, there are always a few bad apples. Hopefully the good will win in the end, but I do know that they get tired, and weary, because it’s a thankless task.

I would never presume to speak on behalf of Judy or anyone else for that matter.

* * * * * * *

On 20/04/2017 11:30, Love Knysna – Mike wrote:

I’d had hoped to give you an opportunity to be the woman I first thought I’d met. I’d like you and Judy Harrison to have been morally and honestly upright representatives of the ratepayers’ organisations and DA you belong to. Instead, you email another smokescreen.

I’d love to be proven wrong where I’m wrong but you, your Deputy Mayor husband, and the DA you support no matter the consequences, have failed to do so for years.

Rather than prove me wrong, you respond with many words that don’t add up to the evidence.

I’ve never forced you to be an official representative for Judy Harrison. She’s chosen not to respond despite being included in all emails. That doesn’t suggest a person of her own mind yet that’s not why I asked. She’s your buddy in arms. You’d know if she was attending or not. A simple question, not a presumptive imposition.

As it was already agreed that both sides would record the meeting, your ‘warping’ reasons for not communicating with me are disingenuous and moot.

I’m also aware that there are good people in our local government however they would be more apparent to the public if they stood against corruption. More pertinent is that I’m fond of some of them so for you to imply that I blanket them all under negativity is falsehood.

What your email suggests is that someone suggested you two don’t meet me, probably your husband, resulting in this nonsense that’s akin to the DA propaganda I have so regularly faced. Consequently, I shall address you online (to a degree) and, along with the others, (mostly) through legal channels. I’d rather have met as civilised human beings placing logic ahead emotions and Knysna before political interest but, at the very least, your absurd response here serves as some small evidence in the greater case against the DA which carries dishonesty as if it were a badge of honour.

CONCLUSION

“Snarky” was deliberately chosen as a mild word as I wanted the meeting to go ahead. It was a restrained word considering Candace Myers had basically accused me of falsifying records. The reality is that Candace Myers used it as an excuse to pretend being insulted so that she wouldn’t have to answer serious questions that may have further exposed the blue, cold heart of politics in Knysna.