Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The DA has denied holding a proverbial gun against Garden Route District Mayor Memory Booysen's head and pressurising him to issue a statement apologising for things he said in March this year. 

This was in response to questions from George Herald following a statement last week Thursday by Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa (ANC) in which he made serious allegations against the DA.

But, it soon appeared that Tsengwa may have jumped the gun, as the statement saw light for just a couple of hours before he retracted it without explanation.

In the retracted statement Tsengwa also referred to an alleged document from the DA's Federal Legal Committee (FLC) in which Booysen was, according to him, instructed by the party to do "illegal and wrong things". 

Chairperson of the DA's Federal Council Helen Zille said there are decision making processes in every organisation, including the DA, that ensure its functioning. "There is no gun at anyone's head."

DA Communications Director Richard Newton said the FLC issue is an internal process that is still underway. "I will be in a position to give clarity on the FLC process once it is completed."

Tsengwa's statement on Thursday afternoon was retracted five hours later, on the very same day that Booysen publicly apologised for releasing a statement in March. In that statement, Booysen criticised law enforcement agencies for the way they handled a criminal case in which Garden Route District Municipal Manager Monde Stratu is currently standing trial.

Tsengwa's first take

In his ill-fated statement Tsengwa alleged that Stratu's position is at stake, with a possible suspension on the horison. Tsengwa said the DA does not want Stratu in office because they believe him to have strong ties with the ANC.

He further said Booysen is under heavy pressure from the DA to act in a certain way, and that Booysen was almost ousted by his own caucus through a vote of no confidence. He questioned the sincerity of the apology Booysen released earlier that day, 31 August.

In her comment, Zille said Booysen apologised for his error of judgment and that it was accepted by the party. "We do not comment on caucus meetings. Any action against Mr Stratu will be decided by the relevant parties. We have no knowledge of Mr Stratu's [political] affiliation."

Stratu's position

Asked about Stratu's position in the municipality, GRDM's Communications Head, Herman Pieters, said "it is business as usual". During a special council meeting back on 14 March, it was resolved that Stratu would stay in office, and that the GRDM council would pay his legal fees.

Eric Ntabazalila of the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Stratu's case will be back in the Knysna Regional Court on 20 September. The charges of fraud, forgery and uttering against Stratu and a former municipal manager of Knysna, Dr Sitemebele Wiseman Vatala, relate to the treatment of properties featured in the financial statements of the GRDM and Knysna Municipality.

At the time of going to press, questions to Booysen regarding the alleged motion against him and whether or not it had anything to do with Stratu's court case, remained unanswered.

Apology

In his new statement Booysen said he unreservedly apologises for not ascertaining the facts regarding the existing dispute and for casting aspersions on the prosecuting authority and complainant/s. In his March statement he criticised the prosecution as "malicious" and "marred with procedural flaws aimed at tainting the reputation of the two municipalities and embarrassing the Municipal Manager". He also said Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa advised him that Knysna Municipality had agreed not to pursue any dispute over the properties.

In a turnaround from his earlier take on things, Booysen last week said he fully endorses the rule of law and will fully cooperate with any further investigation on the matter to enable the necessary due process to run its course.

Corruption busters

Knysna Councillor Susan Campbell of Knysna Independent Movement (Kim) called Booysen's latest statement a "belated apology", but "a step in the right direction". Campbell was one of the individuals who laid charges relating to the municipal properties back in 2020, when she was chairperson of the Knysna Ratepayers Association.

Campbell took it a step further, saying, "Booysen must now prove his bona fides by apologising to the Garden Route Corruption Busters (GRCB) for describing them as an 'astroturfing front group' and dismissing their extremely serious allegations of financial misconduct against the GRDM municipal manager, Mr Monde Stratu, as 'frivolous'."

This matter involves Stratu's salary scale and is a completely different matter from the current court case in which Stratu is involved. GRCB released an 18-page document asking Bredell to investigate serious allegations against the district municipality. They claimed that Stratu paid himself R850 000 more than the annual salary of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to GRCB's secretary, Renette Kumm, Campbell was the whistle-blower who realised that certain gratuity payments made to Stratu were, according to her, illegal under the regulations of the Municipal Systems Act.

"Not only did Mayor Booysen insult the complainants, but under his leadership his council dismissed the detailed and motivated allegations without conducting any investigation whatsoever. In so doing the council defied the Municipal Finance Management Act," reads the latest statement by Campbell.

"To prove that he is serious about holding Mr Stratu accountable, Mayor Booysen should ensure that his council rescinds its illegal decision and resolves that the allegations against Mr Stratu should be investigated by the disciplinary board of the municipality."

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