Two senior managers, DA councillor resign

THE Knysna Municipality has been plunged into disarray following the resignation of two senior managers and a DA councillor.

The resignations made for a dramatic end to a virtual council meeting on Thursday and followed one after the other, with each person citing a variety of reasons that painted a worrying picture of the management and financial position of the municipality.

Acting municipal manager Dr Michelle Gratz, chief financial officer Mbulelo Memani and DA councillor and former deputy mayor Peter Myers resigned from the council.

The municipality is run by an ANC-led government after squabbles and various motions of no confidence against former DA mayor Mark Willemse saw the party lose the numbers needed in the council.

The ANC’s deputy mayor, Aubrey Tsengwa, is now acting as the executive mayor.

Gratz had been appointed in February to replace Dr Sitembele Vatala, who was placed on precautionary suspension following the release of a damning financial report that showed how the municipality had spent R143 million in excess of its budget and had reported R66m in over-expenditure.

Gratz’s appointment was extended to August but in her speech to the council, she said she could no longer continue her work given the backlash she received from within and outside the municipality’s structures.

Gratz said in the few short months she had been in her position, she saved the municipality R20m in staff, council, director and overtime salaries.

“Before my arrival, this municipality spent money recklessly and within a week of starting I had to compile an almost new adjustment budget with the CFO and directors,” she said. “The 20% scarce skills allowance paid to directors was unlawful and I secured a council resolution to stop it. Standby and overtime expenditure was reduced by R1.2m.”

Myers, who has long been at odds with his party following numerous suspensions, said he decided to resign before he was expelled. “It is no secret that I have had a troubled relationship with my own party over the past number of years. I have faced much vilification from the DA local provincial and national leadership for my support of Willemse,” he said.

“I have never ceased trying to get the DA to relent and bring Willemse back, but his ostracism seems to be an issue of such importance that not even Helen Zille could reverse this situation. An example of the extreme pettiness and factionalism that is rife within the DA.”

Now the municipality will have two by-elections to replace both Willemse and Myers and the DA will try to wrangle a win to regain control of the municipality.

Knysna DA constituency head Dion George said the party had noted the resignations. “There was a request from the Knysna Ratepayers Association to launch an investigation into the conduct of the CFO that will feature in the next council meeting, so he may very well have various things to account for and that process must run its course,” he said.

“We are sad to see the acting municipal manager resigning; we believe she has done a very good job in a short space of time. Peter Myers has not for a long time been on the same page as the party and we wish him well. We believe a provincial intervention is necessary.”

Chairperson of local organisation Knysna United, Ralph Stander, said while they welcomed the resignations, they were calling for a full forensic audit and that the municipality be placed under administration.