Stratu in court on forgery and uttering charges

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Municipal Manager of the Garden Route District Municipality Monde Stratu and former municipal manager of Knysna Dr Sithemebele Wiseman Vatala both appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court earlier today on charges of forgery and uttering, among others, relating to an alleged property dispute of millions of rands.

Knysna Councillor Susan Campbell of Knysna Independent Movement (Kim) confirmed that she laid charges relating to the matter back in 2020, when she was chairperson of the Knysna Ratepayers Association.

In 2021 the Acting Knysna Municipal Manager, Dawie Adonis, also laid criminal charges regarding the matter. “The case was investigated by the Hawks and they found that Stratu was complicit in the case,” said Campbell.

“The charges were initially laid against Vatala and Mbelelo Memani, the former CFO of Knysna. Memani is currently the municipal manager of Bitou.”

Campbell said the property dispute involves property valued at about R60m.

Garden Route Mayor Memory Booysen released a strongly worded statement earlier today, 9 March, expressing his disappointment at how the matter is being handled by the law enforcement agencies.

“It flies in the face of the fruitful discussions that are taking place between the two municipalities,” said Booysen. “Both municipalities have for years been engaged in discussions regarding the properties of the GRDM that are situated in the Knysna municipal area.”

In his statement Booysen said a docket was opened in the Annual Financial Statements of both the GRDM and Knysna municipalities regarding the treatment of properties belonging to the GRDM:

“The Executive Mayor of Knysna, Councillor Aubrey Tsengwa, has reiterated that both municipalities agreed not to declare any disputes, but to continue with discussions to find an amicable solution. The Municipal Manager of Knysna, Mr Phineas Sebola, has said that the Knysna Municipality was not even served with papers of the impending case against the GRDM MM and there is no need for this matter to have served in court while fruitful negotiations between these two municipalities are starting to bear fruits. Furthermore, Knysna Municipality took a resolution on 21 July 2021 to continue with engagements to find amicable resolutions in the spirit of cooperative governance. However, I am astounded that despite the ongoing discussions a criminal case was opened against the MM of GRDM.”

Booysen said a delegation from GRDM met with Knysna on 1 February 2023 to further discuss the properties in question and said that the meeting was very positive.

“Knysna Municipality delegation, led by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Alberto Marbi, Cllr Neil Louw, Cllr Susan Campbell and the Municipal Manager, agreed to write an item to the Knysna Municipal Council and recommend a possible solution for these properties. It is extremely surprising that during or after deliberations, the information regarding a case opened against the GRDM MM was not disclosed.”

Booysen said both he and Tsengwa have agreed that this action amounts to malicious prosecution marred with procedural flaws aimed at tainting the reputation of the two institutions and further embarrassing the MM of GRDM.

Campbell denied that there was any agreement between the two municipalities, and stated that a formal intergovernmental dispute had been declared. She further expressed the opinion that Booysen should be disciplined for his contemptuous attitude towards the Hawks and the NPA.

Enquiries have been sent to both the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority. Feedback is being awaited.

When Knysna-Plett Herald editor, Blake Linder, approached Sebola for comment he replied that the municipality has made comments regarding the matter as per the Garden Route District Municipality’s statement.