Tag Archives: mthobeli dyanti

Battle: Knysna Municipal Planning Tribunal

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The battle over who would be included on the Knysna Municipal Planning Tribunal (KMPT) deserves more detail than given in my previous blog, ‘Public Victory: Susan Campbell for Tribunal’. THE PUBLIC PUT FIRST BY COINCIDENCE? Politics was afoot when DA Speaker Eleanore Bouw-Spies moved the Knysna Municipal Planning Tribunal item from the back of the agenda to the front. The public can rarely afford the patience (or the time off work) to sit through a full session of a Council meeting. Consequently, it’s become notable that some matters most relevant … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Politicians’ Salary Increase Vote = Quickest Council Meeting

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Greed and hypocrisy were evident, more than ever, at the Knysna Special Council Meeting held on January 12 2016. To understand why i have that opinion, we need to first step back to the last Council meeting of 2015. The contentious issue then was the ISDF, the 30-year plan for Knysna and the request for more money for the controversial tender winners. DA Councillor Peter Myers rightfully requested that answers should be delivered to a Special Council Meeting early in January 2016. Speaker Eleonor Spies, his fellow DA councillor, strangely … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna ISDF Controversy Continues: Request for More Money

Mike Hampton Posted on by

R579 000 more. Knysna Creative Heads (KCH), the company with local developer links, was controversially awarded the tender to prepare the ISDF framework that will decide the future of Knysna. Municipal Manager Grant Easton wants the politicians to spend more money, outside of the tender winners, on public participation. That’s money up and beyond the tender agreement. That’s money despite local and provincial government having insufficiently addressed the public outcry that public participation, over the past two years, was a sham, government and big business seemingly intent on doing what … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Councillors Disagree with Municipal Manager Over Tender Process Documents

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Thursday was another day in Knysna’s Council Chambers when all political parties were on the same page… a different page to Municipal Manager Grant Easton. With COPE Councillor Elrick (Ricky) van Aswegen being recently promoted to the previously only-DA-occupied, Knysna Mayoral Committee (MAYCO), this was his first time as Chairperson of the Section 80 Finance Committee. He began more stiffly formal than normal for him abut soon asserted his new command by requesting the attendance of Municipal Manager Grant Easton who had failed to be present to to deliver his … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Municipality Wants to Sell Our Land

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Knysna Municipality is broke. That’s what’s motivating the sale of prime property in Buffalo Bay and they’re now extending that attitude into property and buildings which belong to us, the citizens and taxpayers of Knysna. Sometimes there will be good reasons to sell but being desperate for cash is not the best of them. Public property cannot be sold just raise funds. There will be future needs for the growing Knysna population and we don’t want to be in the situation where we are buying back property for needs yet … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

ANC & COPE Walk Out

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Garden Route media bias continues with none, so far, having reported the major news of the ANC and COPE walking out of the Knysna Council meeting on September 29 2011. That was 7 days ago. Unlike surrounding municipalities, there’s been a tight grip by the DA on information with few media willing to report both sides. Instead, a distorted version of events makes the rumour mill and does nothing to further truth nor the productivity of the Knysna Municipality. It had been a 3hr meeting before the walkout occurred. As … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!