Knysna replaces MPAC chair
The Knysna council has voted in favour of replacing DA Councillor Michelle Wasserman as the chair of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) with ACDP Councillor Ian Uys. This transpired in an ordinary council meeting on Thursday 6 August, in response to a motion by ANC caucus leader Claudine Croutz. She also proposed replacing the terms of reference that require the MPAC chairperson to be from the "largest opposition party" to reflect terms requiring the official to be "from the opposition parties represented in council". Eleven councillors voted in favour of both Croutz's motions while eight voted against it. Croutz said the current terms of reference unfairly exclude smaller opposition parties, but Wasserman said the DA was against both motions as the ANC will choose people that will not hold them to account.
Mayor Elrick van Aswegen told Wasserman not to be selective when dealing with the issue of the MPAC terms of reference. "I was in the same situation a few years ago when you voted for this regulation," he said. In a statement, DA Knysna constituency head Dion George said Uys lacks the legal training necessary for the task as MPAC chair. "Wasserman … practised as an advocate of the High Court for five years and has been a councillor at the Knysna Municipality for just under six years," he said. "Although Councillor Uys has financial qualifications and experience, he has no legal training and has only served as a councillor for two years … What are the ANC and their mayor so eager to hide from scrutiny? What are they planning to do that they wouldn't want MPAC to scrutinise?" he asked.
In response, Van Aswegen was adamant that Uys is suitable for the position, and added, "They [DA] are portraying the municipality as corrupt while the majority of the corruption that happened in this municipality happened when the DA was in charge".
To the allegations of corruption during the DA's tenure in Knysna, George said, "If the mayor has any proof he must come forward and open a case with the police. I will also be glad to investigate any corruption that happened or was done by our councillors."
Asked for comment, Uys said he is from a party that has never been implicated in corruption, unlike the DA and the ANC. "I believe I am best qualified for the position to oversee their antics. As an experienced auditor it is what I am best at doing. It appears to be a matter of sour grapes by the DA over the council decision to appoint me as the chairperson rather than one of them," he said.