Knysna Municipality could be dissolved by WC govt over service delivery failures

CAPE TOWN - The Knysna Municipality is facing the possibility of being dissolved by the Western Cape government over service delivery failures.

Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell has sent a letter to the municipality about the intention to put it under administration.

Bredell cited governance failures, an organisational culture of fear and political interference in the administration, among other issues.

This means the Garden Route municipality might be headed for fresh elections in all the wards if this goes ahead.

The Knysna Municipality, governed by a coalition of the African National Congress (ANC), the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners, has recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

These include corruption allegations, political instability and service delivery failures.

Provincial local government Graham Paulse said that should the council be dissolved, an administrator will be appointed to run the municipality until a new council is elected.

"The law prescribes that when a council has been dissolved that there must be fresh elections within 90 days in order for a new council to be elected."

The municipality has 10 calendar days to respond to the MEC's letter.