Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa Retains Position as No Confidence Motion Lapses

Knysna Municipality Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa has narrowly escaped a motion of no confidence after the motion lapsed during a turbulent council meeting on Thursday. Susan Campbell, a councillor for the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) and the initiator of the motion, was notably absent from the virtual meeting when the motion was raised, leading to its lapse as per legal directives of the municipality.

The lapsed motion came amidst allegations of an improper link between Mayor Tsengwa and a local business entity, a claim that was removed from KIM’s social media following defamation allegations from the involved business, as reported by Daily Maverick. These developments underscore the turbulence within the politically-hung Knysna council.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), possessing substantial representation in the 21-seat council, has signaled its intention to introduce another motion, not merely against individual leadership but to call for the dissolution of the entire council and to advocate for new elections. This indicates a greater level of political unrest within the council, which has seen leadership shifts from a DA-KIM coalition to the current ANC-led alliance inclusive of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI).

Council Speaker Mncedisi Skosana addressed the absence of Campbell, citing her intermittent virtual presence. Despite Campbell’s assertion that technical issues prevented her from hearing proceedings properly, the motion’s procedural lapse was enforced, leading to an adjournment of the meeting.

Knysna, one of 16 hung councils from the 2021 municipal elections, has faced its share of governance challenges. The DA with eight seats, followed by the ANC with seven seats, and other parties like KIM, the PA, PBI, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) compose the precarious political balance of the council.

The municipality's governance has come under scrutiny beyond internal council strife, drawing attention to the wider issues of service delivery and infrastructure. Notably, the Garden Route municipality experienced a significant collapse in water and environmental infrastructure, prompting a provincial government intervention.

A comprehensive diagnostic report laid bare the challenges — from water and financial crises to communication breakdowns between councillors and the community. While the municipality claims to have made progress in areas such as anti-corruption and communication strategies, previous service delivery and governance concerns precipitated calls from ActionSA’s Julie Lopes for the municipality to be placed under administration.

As political machinations continue, the stability of Knysna’s governance remains in the balance, drawing the attention of residents concerned with accountability and effective administration in this scenic but politically embattled municipality.