Latest news with #ConsolidatedExecutiveObligationsMonitoringandEnforcementFramework
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Bredell yet to decide on intervention in Knysna Municipality
MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell. Image: Facebook LOCAL government MEC Anton Bredell has yet to take further action after announcing in June his intention to intervene in the Knysna municipality, citing 'reasonable grounds' that it was failing to meet its executive obligations under the Constitution and other legislation. Approached for comment on the status of the intervention, spokesperson for Bredell, Wouter Kriel said: 'Minister is still studying and applying his mind to the response received from Knysna Municipality." Knysna Municipality said they have responded to the MEC. "We have not received any further correspondence at this stage," said Knysna Municipality spokesperson, Christopher Bezuidenhout. Late in June, Bredell said the notice issued to the municipality on June 26, details the municipality's persistent and ongoing failures to fulfil its executive obligations relating to delivering basic services, particularly in wastewater/sanitation management, water and refuse management. "These failures are associated with and caused by systemic governance issues on the part of the municipality; council's failure of a prioritised response; prolonged infrastructure neglect; budget allocation decisions; accountability failures in the municipality's management of wastewater /sewerage, water provision, and refuse management.' Shortly after Bredell's announcement, Knysna Mayor Thando Matika pushed back against the provincial government's plan to dissolve the municipal council, maintaining that Knysna is on the right path to recovery. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Matika last month said they had implemented structural reforms and enhanced service delivery since the Council adopted the Consolidated Executive Obligations Monitoring and Enforcement Framework (CEOMEF) in June 2024. 'The journey is far from over but Knysna is on the correct path. A series of administrative and governance improvements were undertaken,' the mayor said at the time. Matika had highlighted key infrastructure improvements in 2024, including an upgraded waste transfer station and enhancements to water and sanitation systems. In response to a 2025 wastewater non-compliance notice, the municipality addressed mechanical faults, engaged stakeholders in a regulatory workshop, and committed to weekly effluent reporting and a coastal discharge permit application. Knysna United said while officials were trying to turn things around, in their view most of the problems were endemic. 'We know the municipal manager and the new mayor are trying their best. It however is hard and most of the problems are endemic and definitely require some kind of intervention. We must all put Knysna first and if we do that then we must welcome intervention. The problem, however, is what kind of intervention. Are we talking about administration or about new elections or both? We will definitely support administration, maybe until the LGE 2026. In terms of new elections now, we are not sure and are busy consulting on this matter. 'We would want the administrator to prioritise the prosecution of all cases of corruption. Also to recover all wasteful and fruitless expenditures from whoever was involved. There must be consequence management,' said Knysna United's Ralph Stander. Cape Times
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Knysna's future now in MEC Bredell's hands
Knysna mayor Thando Matika. Image: Facebook KNYSNA mayor Thando Matika has defended the municipality against the provincial government's plan to dissolve the municipal council, saying Knysna remained on the correct path to recovery. Local government MEC Anton Bredell recently notified the municipality of his intention to appoint an administrator until a newly-elected leadership takes over the municipality. Matika on Monday said they have implemented structural reforms and enhanced service delivery since the Council adopted the Consolidated Executive Obligations Monitoring and Enforcement Framework (CEOMEF) in June 2024, 'The journey is far from over but Knysna is on the correct path. A series of administrative and governance improvements were undertaken in August 2024, as outlined in the initial implementation report. 'By February 2025, the municipality had finalised the appointment of critical senior managers, achieved 97% completion of the Audit Action Plan, broadened the rollout of smart metering for both water and electricity. Tabled a budget-funding plan addressing sustainability beyond the 2024/2025 financial year, improved revenue management and expenditure control practices.' 'A multi-stakeholder Steering Committee, comprising representatives from the municipality, Provincial Government, and National Government, was established since the adoption of the Diagnostic and Support Plan on 1 March 2024 to oversee implementation and ensure accountability. Regular Steering Committee meetings, held both virtually and in person, provided a structured platform to monitor progress, escalate issues, and coordinate support across all three spheres of government. 'The latest Section 154 progress report was tabled before Council on 12 February 2025, supported by a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework.' In his statement last week, Bredell said the municipality continued to experience 'serious challenges in governance and service delivery'. He cited several years of diagnostic assessments of the municipality's governance, financial, and service delivery matters. 'The assessment revealed deep-rooted governance failures, including a regressing audit opinion, an organisational culture of fear and uncertainty, political interference in administration, critical vacancies at senior levels, and a marked decline in service delivery." After Knysna municipality failed to adopt another report in December 2023, Bredell issued a notice of intention to intervene in terms of section 139 of the Constitution in the Knysna Municipality. However, at the time he said after considering the representations of the municipality, they developed the CEOMEF cited by Matika for the municipality to implement. According to Matika, by the close of 2024, a number of critical environmental and infrastructure achievements marked a turning point, notably the newly upgraded waste transfer station. To address Knysna's water and sanitation challenges, Matika said pumping stations and reticulation networks were upgraded, as well as 'increased functionality at the wastewater treatment works", among others. "The municipality responded to a notice from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding wastewater non-compliance in May 2025. Mechanical defects at the wastewater treatment works were promptly addressed. A multi-stakeholder workshop held in April included DFFE, BOCMA, DWS, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) and provincial departments to address discharge regulations. The municipality committed to weekly effluent quality reporting and applied for a coastal discharge permit," the mayor added.
