The DA had brought the motion in terms of the Municipal Structures Act which called for fresh elections to be held.
The ANC in Knysna has dubbed the DA’s latest failed motion to dissolve the Knysna council as “frivolous”.
It was tabled as an attempt to destabilise the current coalition government, said the ANC after a special council meeting was held to address the motion to dissolve.
The DA had brought the motion in terms of the Municipal Structures Act which called for fresh elections to be held, arguing that “only a stable DA majority government can save Knysna from its rapid decline”.
“Unfortunately, the motion did not garner the required two-thirds majority, and did not pass. This motion has shown the true colours of many of the political parties in the Knysna Council, namely the ANC, PBI, PA, and the EFF,”said DA Knysna constituency head Ryan Smith.
He charged that under the current leadership, Knysna’s audit outcomes have regressed due to rampant financial mismanagement and irregular rate collection, waste and refuse management has stagnated, water quality and provision have sharply declined, and E-coli levels in the Knysna lagoon have skyrocketed due to the collapse of wastewater treatment which has led to raw sewage and effluent flowing directly into the ocean and surrounds.
“This highlights the fact that the ANC, PBI, PA, and the EFF chose to put themselves and their own personal interests ahead of those of Knysna and its residents, while also voting to keep their salaries.”
ANC regional secretary, Phumela Nosana, said: “They brought this frivolous motion, knowing that it will not carry. Yet again, the DA's aim is to create a perception of chaos and bad governance so as to destabilise the municipality. They continue to show that they do not care about residents of Knysna. The DA knew they would need a two-third majority for their motion to be successful even if they lobbied their think-alike partners, this motion was not going to succeed.
The ANC-led coalition under the capable leadership of Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa remains committed to bringing stability both politically and in the administration while cleaning up the DA's mess.”
Enquiries to the EFF and PA had not been answered by deadline on Tuesday.
Cape Times