Going through the motions
Despite DA allegations that Knysna mayor Mark Willemse had lost “credibility” among councillors and the public, he enjoyed support from both spheres last week –which saw him survive a motion of no confidence initiated by his own caucus members.
The motion was voted on during a dramatic council meeting last Thursday which kicked off with a protest outside the municipal building in Clyde Street by Willemse supporters.
Most of them were donning T-shirts with Willemse’s photograph printed on them or holding posters with slogans such as “Mark Willemse: The People’s Mayor”.
A petition signed by 1 000 supporters
Following the peaceful gathering, protesters handed over a petition – signed by more than 1 000 in support of Willemse – to the mayor before proceedings got underway in the council chambers.
DA councillor Michelle Wasserman led the motion which was supported by seven other DA caucus members. In a statement last week, Wasserman said the decision to file the motion stemmed from, among others, Willemse’s election as mayor after he voted with the ANC to oust former mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies last year. She said that he was not “properly approved to do so” by the DA constitution, which states that a public representative may not vote in a way that does not comply with how the caucus agreed to vote.
She also claimed Willemse had not shown political leadership; was not providing strategic direction to the municipality’s administration; and that he had lost credibility among councillors, officials and members of the public who “perceive him as being unable to make his own decisions”.
12 votes
Following a secret ballot, however, the motion failed after results revealed that there were 12 votes to seven in his favour. One ballot was spoiled. It would appear that only the DA caucus members supported the motion while the rest of councillors, including those from opposition parties, supported Willemse.
But the mayor labelled it a “hollow victory”.
“It is unfortunate that I do not have the support of my caucus or the DA,” he added, “and I would have hoped that the DA leadership would take the concerns of the people of Knysna seriously before taking a heavy-handed approach. I also would have hoped to resolve this matter internally but unfortunately that has not happened,” Willemse said after proceedings.
The lack of support from the party went a step further when a senior DA member sent Willemse an image depicting him on an ANC logo. “I find the image of me on an ANC logo insulting, as to date I have been nothing but loyal to the party,” he said.
Councillor Peter Myers, who seems to be the only DA councillor supporting Willemse, said he was delighted about the outcome as he felt the mayor had been doing a “good job” in his position.
Disciplinary action?
Both councillors said they anticipate some action from the DA’s executive structures, and though they were not aware of any disciplinary action against them yet, they expected it “sooner rather than later”.
These fears seem not to be without basis as DA Western Cape provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela immediately responded to the outcome with a scathing statement against Willemse and Myers.
He said the DA has been left with “no option other than to assume an opposition role within the municipality” following Willemse’s support from the ANC during the motion.
“This was a difficult decision, but necessary in the best interest of the town. In the process, the ANC opted to institute a simultaneous motion of no confidence in the DA speaker, which was supported by the ANC and other opposition parties,” Madikizela said.
‘DA to hold both to account’
He added that the party would pursue all avenues within the DA’s constitution to hold both councillors to account.
“Despite the DA’s best efforts to implement its manifesto and the will of the voters, we have been met by two of our own councillors who refuse to uphold the party’s internal rules and regulations. The actions of Willemse is a disregard and in violation of the DA’s internal processes. They are a law unto themselves and risk ungovernability in Knysna, which sets a dangerous precedent that must be dealt with swiftly.”
During the same council meeting, the local ANC brought a motion of no confidence against Speaker Georlene Wolmarans, and it succeeded with 11 votes cast in support, seven against and two spoiled ballots.
Wolmarans was then nominated once again for the position, while the ANC proposed councillor Titi Gambu, and after 11 votes were cast in her support, eight against her and two spoiled ballots, Gambu was elected the new Speaker.
Knysna mayor Mark Willemse receives a petition in support of his position as mayor from resident Sam Lurie outside the Knysna municipal building in Clyde Street. Photo: Yolande Stander
Read previous articles:
- Motion of no confidence in mayor fails
- Community stands together for mayor
- Game of groans
- Utter rubbish says mayor in response to DA accusations
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News