SACP warns of 'palace politics' after arrest of Knysna's former mayor
A day before he was arrested on corruption charges, ex-Knysna mayor Thando Matika was refusing to give up his seat at a council meeting, forcing speaker Mark Willemse to call for law enforcement to remove him.
On the day before his arrest for corruption, former Knysna mayor Thando Matika refused to relinquish his seat at a council meeting, prompting Speaker Mark Willemse to request law enforcement to remove him. Matika, along with acting municipal manager Boy Manqoba Ngubo and acting chief financial officer Busisiwe Lubelwana, was arrested on Thursday.
The allegations against them claim that they solicited kickbacks from a businessman to maintain his security contract with the municipality. The ANC removed Matika as mayor and councillor on September 18, following his candidacy for the November 4 local government elections. The SACP Western Cape provincial secretary, Benson Ngqentsu, stated that the party would issue a full statement once they had sufficient information and expressed hope that the recent developments in Knysna, including the arrests, were not influenced by palace politics or political maneuvers.
The SACP remains committed to combating corruption, accountability, and transparency, while assuming the innocence of those until proven guilty. ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni promised a response after receiving more information. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe revealed that the trio was detained by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team and were set to appear in court the following Monday.
The arrests stemmed from information received by the police regarding allegations of solicitation for kickbacks from a businessman who had been awarded a security services contract. Matika, who was the mayor at the time of his arrest, is now officially recognized as the former mayor. The council's final ordinary meeting was attended by only nine councillors on Wednesday, as Matika and the ward 7 councillor took their seats despite the ANC's announcement of their removal.
The proceedings were deemed irregular by DA councillor Jason White, who cautioned the council to proceed without Matika and the ward 7 councillor. Police confirmed that the municipality had increased security for councillors after the killings of former ward 7 councillor Mandla Matiwane and taxi leader Mandla Tyololo.
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