Tag Archives: Bevan Ellman

Who are the Band-Aid Bosses of Knysna? (Part 1)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The Special Knysna Council Meeting of August 25 was revealing. By, now, most of you will have read ‘Knysna Municipal Manager AWOL… then Suspended’. But here’s a blow by blow account of the band-aid selection of 2 Acting Directors and the Acting Municipal Manager. Understand the severity of the situation – that’s half the municipal leadership! Speaker Georlene Wolmarans began by addressing why the agenda had initially barred the public from attending. She never mentioned my complaint and the subsequent opening of the meeting but stated that she’d discovered that … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Mayor Wolmarans to meet Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton Posted on by

I hope readers realise that this is more damage control than genuine attention. The Mayor admits that it’s not her decision but from higher up. They haven’t even contacted me yet they put out a press release. It’s an election year, folks! Nevertheless, I will approach the meeting with genuine intention – we need to clean up the past and paint a better future. * * * * * * Knysna Executive Mayor Georlene Wolmarans has announced that she will be meeting self-proclaimed activist, Mike Hampton. “For five years, Hampton … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Controversial Rent Increase for Knysna Municipal Staff

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“It’s an emotional and sensitive matter, “ said Bevan Ellman, the Director for Corporate Services for Knysna Municipality. He was responding to objections by municipal staff to their increased rentals of municipal properties. The goal of renting flats and houses to staff at greatly reduced prices was meant to assist new staff in relocating from other towns, a way to attract skills. But poor administration led to staff benefiting for years instead of months. In 2014, Council took the resolution to increase rentals. Owing to staff objections, the matter was … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Minister & Mayor in Knysna Tender Scandal

Mike Hampton Posted on by

For two-and-a-half years, the DA-led Knysna Municipality has supported a seemingly illegal tender award that will determine the future of its 72 000 citizens. The ISDF (Integrated Strategic Development Framework) is meant to be the blueprint for Knysna for the next 30 years. It determines everything from where development will be permitted and infrastructure spent. If rumours are true that Knysna is a test case for the Western Province, then the implications are far greater. Despite loud opposition from the public, the DA and the Municipality have been determined to … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Only 30% of Knysna Traffic Fines Being Paid

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Only 30% of Knysna’s traffic fines are being paid, according to Dawie Adonis, the Director of Community Services. This revelation was made at the Section 80 Finance Committee Meeting held this morning, March 10 2015. Although the past financial year tallied R13.9-million in traffic fines, the operational expense of the intended Municipal Court was called into question after Councillor Ray Barrell pointed out that the Knysna Municipality was only expected to gain R812 250 when looking, as an example, at the 1963 fines that weren’t processed 2012 through to 2015 … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

You Knysna Ratepayers Just Paid Again

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“Follow the Green Money Road, follow the Green Money Road Follow, follow, follow, follow, Follow the N2 over the Garden, follow the witch who follows a theme, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the Green Money Road.” – (to be sung to the theme of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) Some may wondered why, after all the Municipal Manager talk about Lauren Waring’s resignation and Grant Easton starting his hike to the throne, why Dawie Adonis, the Director of Community Services, was in the hot seat as the Acting Municipal Manager … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Over R1million Salaries for Knysna Municipal Staff (Part 2)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The goal of this blog is not to condemn professionals being rewarded for their skills (we all want that) but if any are involved in hampering honest government then they do not deserve to be rewarded. Furthermore, the matter deserves public debate when you consider that: Knysna is hampered by cruel unemployment with official statistics at 25% for all and Coloureds, the largest population demographic, at almost 50% (and the government is notorious for underestimations). The middle class is notably shrinking which seems proportional to the rapid vanishing of small … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Over R1million Salaries for Knysna Municipal Staff (Part 1)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Time to be horrified! It’s possible that as many 4 to 5 staff members are now receiving packages of between R1 million and R1.4 million. Furthering the goal of a more transparent and educated Knysna, at the end of this blog are the salaries of some of the department managers/directors of Knysna Municipality. For 5 months, Grant Easton (Director Finance) did not respond to my emails requesting the latest salary figures which, by law, are supposed to be public. Whether it was for that or my same-week queries regarding estuary … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!