ActionSA questions the DA’s public expressions of “outrage” and “deep concern” following the recent arrests in Knysna, given the inconsistency of its position on accountability in Knysna. While the DA’s provincial leadership has called for the recovery of misappropriated public funds their own councillors in Knysna voted with the ANC to kill a motion seeking a formal investigation into allegations of financial misconduct.
The matter concerns Tender T 25/2023/2024 for the provision of physical security, which was awarded to Dephetogo Trading CC on 30 August 2024.
On 7 November 2025, complaints concerning financial misconduct were brought before the Knysna Municipal Council and were supported by a financial misconduct report. A motion by Councillor Susan Campbell sought to have the matter formally referred for investigation.
The motion was defeated after DA councillors Sharon Sabbagh, Luzuko Tyokolo and Andre van Schalkwyk voted against it alongside councillors from the ANC-led coalition. The DA’s mayoral candidate Levael Davis was also suspiciously absent from the sitting and did not register a vote.
This raises serious questions about the DA’s position on accountability in Knysna because when allegations concerning public money are formally brought before a municipal council and supported by a report, the appropriate response should be to allow the matter to be properly investigated and for the facts to be established. Instead, the motion to initiate that process was killed.
The people of Knysna should not have to rely on political parties to decide which allegations involving public money deserve scrutiny. Municipal oversight mechanisms exist precisely so that allegations can be investigated properly, independently and without political considerations determining the outcome.
ActionSA believes that corruption is enemy number 1 at the heart of our broken municipalities and that every political party must be held to the same standard of accountability, with public representatives held accountable wherever there are credible concerns regarding public funds, procurement or municipal governance.
ActionSA Social Justice: Advocates for “Social Justice” over traditional BEE.
Shamrock
Sudan: You have two cows. The southern one ran away because it contains more beef.
dark matter
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