Why has there been no news about the Rheenendal riots for a day and two nights? Why is the Knysna Municipality and the Democratic Alliance (DA) keeping the public in the dark? Why was there no warning to tourists, via social media, to keep out of the problem area?

Is it because Mayor Eleonore Bouw is the Ward Councillor? Is it true that her citizens are angry because of fake promises and her scarcity? Or is this an ANC move?

Consider how the DA played dice in their political game to control the town…

Peter Myers and Eleonore Bouw are friends.

Wards 5 (Brenton to Rheenendal) and Ward 10 (Knysna Central) are DA majority areas so whoever the DA choose to put in there wins by default. That means the public don’t have to decide who runs for election, only the DA Constituency does.

The DA Constituency’s power base is strongest in the rich suburb of Brenton-on-Sea (the last council had 3 politicians from that small area).

Myers became Chairman of the DA Constituency.

Myers becomes Ward 10 Councillor despite being a resident of Ward 5, 23km away.

Myers soon joins the MAYCO (Mayoral Committee).

Bouw, the ex-ANC Mayor, becomes the DA Ward 5 Councillor despite living 30km away from Brenton and 23km from Rheenendal.

Bouw, on her first day in office, becomes DA Speaker, a position as powerful as the Mayor’s because it’s responsible for keeping all Councillors honest.

At the next elections, Bouw runs again for Ward 5 instead of Ward 6 where she lives. COPE wins her home area.

Myers becomes Deputy Mayor. Bouw becomes Mayor. How did i predict her a position a year before it happened? Because there isn’t much democracy in our democracy.

Bouw’s friend and election campaign manager is given a contract as Communication’s Manager for Knysna Municipality despite not having a relevant qualification, despite the job not being advertised as required by law, and despite the contract not going out to tender as required.

Because of time constraints and the burden of the job, it’s impractical for a Ward Councillor (as opposed to a part-time councillor) to become Mayor. It can be done but with great difficulty. BUT it’s 100% impractical to live and work on opposite sides of the widespread Knysna Municipality whilst being Mayor.

Mayor Bouw, you and the DA can try juggle all the balls but some have to drop.

NB: I support meaningful protest but i have no sympathy when protestors destroy their own property. I’m talking about the broken pavement in the first picture. Protest is deligitamised by hooliganism.