MEC Bredell urges Knysna Council to adopt the Diagnostic Assessment and Support Plan to unlock support for the ailing municipality.
Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning wrote to the Knysna Council urging them to call a special council meeting, no later than Monday 19 February, to adopt the latest Diagnostic Assessment and accompanying Support Plan, as prescribed in Section 154 of the Constitution, prepared by the provincial Department of Local Government, together with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the Garden Route District Disaster Management Centre.
The Diagnostic Report found that the municipality requires assistance with governance related matters and needs support to halt and correct a decline in service delivery to its residents.
The latest Diagnostic Assessment and Support Plan follows on previous assessments and support plans in 2018 and 2020. In both previous instances the municipality ignored the findings and declined the support offered from the Provincial Government.
MEC Bredell said that the current Diagnostic Assessment and Support Plan has already been workshopped with the municipality’s administration as well as the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. “During this engagement, it was agreed between all parties involved that a special council meeting needs to be called on an urgent bases to adopt the Diagnostic Assessment and Support Plan,” MEC Bredell said.
“Upon acceptance and approval of the Diagnostic Report and the Support Plan by the Council, a Steering Committee will be formed, comprising representation of all relevant stakeholders, under the leadership of the Municipal Manager and the Department of Local Government. The aim of the Steering Committee will be to manage the implementation of the Diagnostic Report and Support Plan and take or recommend such steps as may be necessary to ensure that all deliverables are achieved within the agreed timeframes,” MEC Bredell said.
MEC Bredell said the decline of Knysna Municipality is of great concern to the Western Cape Government, and as such he remains committed to do everything within the legal framework governing local governments to support Knysna so it can perform its functions to a satisfactory level.
Due to the urgency and critical nature of this situation, MEC Bredell requested that Knysna Council provide him with a copy of the Council Resolution adopting the Diagnostic Report and Support Plan by no later than Tuesday, 20 February 2024.
Wouter Kriel - Spokesperson for MEC Anton Bredell
Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Cell: 079 694 3085
Email: Wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za
