Statement by Levael Davis – DA Knysna Mayoral Candidate:
The DA in Knysna notes the arrests of the former Executive Mayor, Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer over allegations of corruption and kickbacks linked to a municipal security services contract.
We welcome the investigation of these serious allegations and respect the criminal justice process.
The DA in Knysna has raised concerns about governance, procurement and the management of public money in the municipality. We have consistently sought greater scrutiny and accountability to stop corruption and maladministration, whether by blocking illegal cadre deployments or tough probing that exposed wrongdoing.
After three years of DA investigations, there is now proof that our fight within the council was about the people of Knysna, and not politics.
The Western Cape Government proposed invoking Section 139, but this was rejected and the proof now confirms it was justified.
The arrests are an important development in a matter that ultimately concerns the money of Knysna residents. Accountability cannot end with arrests and if legal proceedings establish that municipal funds were unlawfully lost, every available mechanism must be used to recover our people’s money.
Residents have endured coalition chaos, instability and a devastating decline in basic services, while the municipality has faced repeated governance and financial crises. Every diverted rand could have fixed water infrastructure, sewerage, roads, refuse removal, the Estuary crisis and create job opportunities.
Knysna, this is your opportunity to oust this corrupt government and side with the DA on 4 November. Remember, small parties always end up keeping the ANC in power, and that is why small parties pose such a risk to Knysna.
The DA has dedicated years to exposing problems, investigating wrongdoing and applying pressure in Council. With a DA government, we can begin the work of restoring clean, accountable governance and reversing years of decay in Knysna.
Only the DA has the track record in local government to get Knysna back on track. It’s our track record that can be seen in numerous other local governments. It’s what we do wherever we take over.
The DA calls for the criminal and SIU investigations into the security tender to be pursued to their conclusion, with one standard of accountability irrespective of party or position.
Knysna will simply not survive another five years of this coalition of chaos. The DA, however, is ready to rescue Knysna.
Devil Bread
Sudan: You have two cows. The southern one ran away because it contains more beef.
Firedog
Yugoslavia: You have two cows. They die right after giving birth to 20 new cows.