New Knysna mayor ‘defies DA leaders’ on order to resign

THE newly elected DA mayor of Knysna has allegedly defied an instruction by party leaders to resign at the weekend.

Mark Willemse was voted in as mayor on June 6 in what provincial party leader Bonginkosi Madikizela likened to a coup.

Former mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies was given her marching orders during a vote of no confidence, in which her colleagues in the DA allegedly sided with the opposition.

“What’s happening in Knysna is madness‚” Madikizela said yesterday.

Party leaders‚ he said‚ had given Willemse an ultimatum to step down by 4pm on Saturday. That had not happened by yesterday.

“We spoke to the caucus and . . . the newly elected mayor. And the party made it very clear – we are a party of due processes‚ this is not how things are done.

“We have a situation where we have someone who is the mayor of Knysna who is also the speaker of Eden District [at the moment]‚ which is illegal.

“That is why we [told] Mark Willemse he must resign.”

Willemse has declined to give media interviews.