Da Finds Own Mayor Guilty
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tHIS IS THE NEW ONE. Business cards and flyers, booklets FREE Sedgefield6500 COPIES and brochures, labels and posters. EVERY Black and white and colour. FORTNIGHT Knysna Why not call us for a quote or email Wilderness [email protected] George P O BOX 1424 SEDGEFIELD 6573 The Edge Building, 63 Main Road TEL: 044 343 2415 FAX: 086 695 8936 CELL: 072 516 4701 Email: [email protected] THE Issue 544 www.edgenews.co.za 8 August 2018 This is the wonderful time of the year when the matric students go all out to look their absolute smartest as they head off to celebrate the end of their school careers. As Sedgefield has no high school, our teens traditionally finish their secondary education at various schools in George and Knysna. In this IT’S MATRIC SEASON edition we have included as many of these school’s Matric Farewell pictures as space would allow (see page 9), but couldn’t resist putting this wonderful shot by Emma Rorke on our front page. The lovely young lady is Robyn Gartsman and her partner Callum Reid. Thank you to everybody involved! Photo: . Chas The panel also recommended that Councillor Peter Myers' for R220 or R320 membership be terminated immediately, once again indicating that this sentence be suspended provided that he adhere to three conditions: that henceforth he attends all caucus meetings, that DA FINDS OWN MAYOR GUILTY he resigns from the Mayoral Committee within 10 days of acceptance of the Panel's recommendation by the PEC, and that In another twist to the political tale that has been Knysna Willemse's case, the mayorship. he diligently adheres to the DA's social media policy. Municipal Council over the last month or so, both Mayor Mark The hearing, held in a board room at the Knysna Protea Hotel on The panel's recommended sentence provides that any violation Willemse and Councillor Peter Myers have been found guilty of of any of these conditions by Willemse of Myers will result in the one violation of the DA Constitution in the disciplinary Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd August, was the continuation of the one was proposed in the Knysna Council Chambers on Wednesday 6 originally started in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 July. It was opened to lifting of the suspension of the sentence so that termination as a proceeding against them. June. This resulted in her losing the mayoral position and Willemse DA member takes immediate effect. the public at the last minute, though being voted in as mayor by Myers and opposition councillors. If the disciplinary panel's sentencing space constraints only allowed for five The Panel was composed of Kobus Leroux and two other recommendations are accepted by the or six additional people to witness the Both pleaded not guilty to the charge, citing that they 'voted their members: Annelie Rabie, and Derrick America. Annelie Rabie is party's Provincial Executive process first hand. conscience' based on what they alleged were acts of corruption and the mayor of Prince Albert, and Derrick America is the head of Committee (PEC), their membership maladministration on the previous mayor's part. After hearing testimony from the the Provincial disciplinary committee. The Committee Assistant in the Democratic Alliance will be (effectively the prosecutor) was Anton Coetsee. terminated unless they each agree to councillors themselves, as well as The Panel's recommended sentences, based on notes taken at the adhere to three conditions set by the witnesses including Sedgefield hearing were as follows. Councillor Mark Willemse's DA Should Willemse and Myers be forced to leave the DA in this hearing panel. At the time of going to Councillors Cathy Weiderman and membership to be terminated with immediate effect. However, that manner they will obviously no longer be councillors for their press it is unknown whether the Levael Davis, Council Speaker termination is suspended providing that he adheres to three particular wards. This would necessitate by-elections for those councillors intend to do this as the Georlene Wolmarans and Western conditions. Firstly, he should remove Peter Myers from the Mayoral wards, in which Willemse and Myers would be able to run, either panel's recommendations are still to Cape MEC for Local Government Committee within ten days of the PEC's acceptance of the panel's representing another party or standing as independents. be approved by the PEC. Anton Bredell, both Willemse and recommended sentence. Secondly, any media releases issued by his Myers were found guilty of the single office should be approved in advance by the PEC, and thirdly he In the interim, they will each retain charge of voting against their party's should go through the DA's mayoral selection process. If he does not their party membership, their posts as caucus – this in the Motion of No pass this selection process, he would have to resign immediately as councillors, their positions on Confidence against the previous mayor, but will remain a councillor. If he passes, then he will municipal committees, and in Mayor mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies which continue as Knysna's mayor. Still the mayor Mark Willemse (Continued on page 2) for R220 or R320 THE EDGE ANNUAL And now, so many years later, we Whilst the action was limited to are in our Sedgefield home, and I nothing on the window am so proud to say that the his is The Year of the replacement job, it would be family tradition continues. I have Window. discussed at length, with each boldly taken a stand against T family member chipping in (see rushing any simple home Yes. Profound, I know. Perhaps what I did there?) to offer maintenance tasks, rather letting fortunately even too much for the mind of opinion as to why the task should t h e m m a t u r e i n t o m o r e Sharing the If you would like to make a difference the average reader to process. be given priority over other meaningful repair work. this winter, please consider bringing a But before you go rushing to tasks.... such as a new lightbulb warm heart new or (clean) second hand blanket to your computer to add this in the upstairs toilet.... or the Indeed, a few short months ago of Sedgefield The EDGE Offices @ 63 Main Road or snippet of wisdom to your removal of the shrivelled New (or was it years?) I removed a the Sedge Tourism office next to ABSA. facebook profile (no doubt with Year’s Eve balloons from the window pane because the frame a sepia toned likeness of myself lounge ceiling, and then had rotted (someone hadn't looking sagely disinterested in someone would vaguely promise gotten around to varnishing it). resigns from the Mayoral Committee within 10 days of t h e b a c k g ro u n d ) p l e a s e to borrow a tape-measure. Just a tiny bedroom window. acceptance of the Panel's recommendation by the PEC, and that understand I cannot take all the Certainly much too small for the veranda floor and bounced he diligently adheres to the DA's social media policy. credit. Of course we were worthy anyone to climb through (he off into the long grass, never to students of family tradition, so said, hastily). The plan was, and The panel suggested violation of any of these conditions by be found again. My late father was the original we would efficiently do nothing, still is, to replace the frame and Willemse or Myers should result in the lifting of the suspension so author of this life-changing for a fortnight or so, and then return the window (with pane that termination as a DA member takes immediate effect. If only it had known that its nothing more for 11 and a half installed) to its rightful place. phrase that surpasses wisdom on The Panel was composed of Kobus Leroux and two other jagged legacy would forever months. Dad was so proud. so many levels. members: Annelie Rabie, and Derrick America. Annelie Rabie is remain in that pane. The glass Mrs Ed feels that this should be a was never replaced, of course, the mayor of Prince Albert, and Derrick America is the head of the Twenty two times, if the truth be One evening a visiting cousin r u s h - j o b , a n d n a g s m e because we all know that old Provincial disciplinary committee. The Committee Assistant told. actually produced a tape incessantly about it every six adage (say it with me if you like) measure, promising to make it months or so. (effectively the prosecutor) was Anton Coetzee. “Never fix a broken window You see, whilst I am certainly his task the next day to measure Should Willemse and Myers be forced to leave the DA in this today, that you can fix another the window and get the glass cut I keep telling her that she (and rather proudly) The Prince day..... or never.” manner they will obviously no longer be councillors for their PLEASE NOTE NEW of Procrastination, my father accordingly. We, of course, made shouldn't blame me for the slight particular wards. This would necessitate by-elections for those was The King. And, I believe, it a point of applauding his efforts, delay:- procrastination is And such was the start of the wards, in which Willemse and Myers would be able to participate, was his father before him who emphasising feigned gratitude something that's in my blood.