NCOP votes against WC govt resolution to dissolve Knysna Municipality

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has voted against a resolution by the Western Cape government to dissolve the Knysna Municipality over persistent service delivery issues.

All provinces, except the Western Cape, have supported a report from the select committee on cooperative governance, which recommends that the province play a more supportive role instead.

Local Government MEC Anton Bredell and the Democratic Alliance have been accused by Knysna Mayor Thando Matika of political meddling in the African National Congress (ANC)-led council.

Following a visit to Knysna on Tuesday to meet with the council and interested parties, the select committee on cooperative governance said it agreed with residents that dissolving the councilwas not the route it should follow.

It would force fresh elections in the town and have an administrator take over for at least 90 days.

But the DA's Nicholas Gotsell said the committee's report was skewed and favoured organisations that were aligned with council leadership.

"There have been repeated ecoli outbreaks, widespread infrastructure collapse and non-compliance with statutory obligations like the water services development plan."

However, committee chairperson Mxolisi Kaunda said the new political leadership, which was installed in February, was not failing in its constitutional duties.

"They are all working very hard to recover from the challenges of the previous administration."

The committee has resolved to return to the town in the first half of the new year to assess progress.