Tag Archives: public participation

Give Us a Simple Budget About Our Lives

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Do you identify your life with any of these issues? This may be about Knysna Budget 2017-2018 but i’m betting that many of you readers, no matter where you live, will relate to some of the points i’m making. This is about municipal loans, wasted monies, rental crisis, education to attract investment, the environment, tourism, potholes, public participation, transparency and the contribution of ratepayers who are seemingly disrespected by being kept in the dark. Attention: Acting Municipal Manager Johnny Douglas, Chief Financial Officer Mbulelo Memani, Mayor Eleanore Spies, Speaker Georlene … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Fireworks & Pets Update

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Knysna Fireworks: Algoa FM has published an article in total contrast to the Knysna Plett-Herald’s about what happened on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s morning. IN RESPONSE, I SAID: “The fines are obviously not high enough! The Municipality is obviously not committed enough! The police are obviously not cared to follow up on complaints! The public are obviously not complaining enough, prepared to fight for their complaint being dealt with!!!!!! Outside of all that, outside of loving pets, is banning fireworks the will of the majority of the people??? … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

From the Knysna Mayor’s Desk (August 2016)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Dear Reader, Following the Local Government Elections on 3 August, the residents of Greater Knysna have spoken and we are happy to announce that the Democratic Alliance (DA) remains the governing party of Greater Knysna. I thank each one of you for braving the cold to cast your vote. Council has an approved budget in place with which the promises of our Election Campaign Manifesto can be fulfilled. The time has now come for us to govern Greater Knysna on five important pillars, namely: the opportunity town; the safe town; … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

For Tonight: Dear Knysna DA Members

Mike Hampton Posted on by

DA members and supporters, will your leadership make you fearful at 5pm today at the meeting at the Knysna Angling Club? Will you choose to make a difference or will you continue to support the damage being done to our town by the current, dirty version of the DA? From my viewpoint, there’s a definite difference in the DA between: 1. Those who deliberately support crime and maladministration or don’t care because they’re more interested in conservative cliques and the real (or pretend) power that goes with being in that … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

DA & Ward 10 Committee Kick Democracy in the Balls Again

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Last night’s Ward 10 (Knysna Central) meeting started pleasant but ended with laws being broken and democracy kicked in the balls. I’ve been frustrated lately. Yeah, that’s not new. I get immensely frustrated at the public’s lack of will to stand up for themselves. But this has been deeper than that regularity to where i’ve been depressed and having to force myself to be active. But i now have DA Councillor Richard Dawson, his husband (and fellow Ward Committee member), Dr Colin Lang, and Municipal Manager Lauren Waring to thank for … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Victory for Pit Bull Owners

Mike Hampton Posted on by

An email has been circulating wherein Georlene Wolmarans, the Mayor of Knysna, is obviously backpedaling on the proposed Pit Bull terrier clauses in the upcoming ‘By-Law Relating to the Keeping of Dogs’. It’s a victory for public participation. If you’re new to the topic, then please check out my blog that introduced the matter. To be fair, she wasn’t behind the draconian changes. The Governance & Planning Committee erred from common sense when they unanimously recommended them for approval to the Mayoral Committee. That there had been so little public … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Examples of the Knysna Municipality's Obstructions the Past 3 Months

Mike Hampton Posted on by

In the latter part of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, this is what i experienced in a row… and what the DA and Knysna Municipality erroneously define as public participation: ISDF Interaction Meeting – Mayor Georlene Wolmarans disrupts meeting and refuses public interaction. ISDF showcase at library – they change the time by 1 hour so several of us could not stay for the new time they had failed to inform us of. Council Meeting November – 10 minutes into the meeting, they hold a closed session for 45 … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Animal Circuses Poll Result

Mike Hampton Posted on by

It’s only being a day and a half since I asked you whether Should Circuses Using Animals Be Boycotted? but since a whopping 649 of you have already voted (as of 6am on 13 Jan 2014), I thought I’d share the result whilst it’s more local (as my blog may appear elsewhere on the net later today – although welcomed, if outside animal rights find it, their voting would likely change the outcome and cloud what locals really think). If your participation was as enthusiastic on every issue I presented … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!