SACP warns of 'palace politics' after arrest of Knysna's former mayor - IOL

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.

Matika was arrested on Thursday with acting municipal manager Boy Manqoba Ngubo and acting chief financial officer Busisiwe Lubelwana over allegations that they demanded kickbacks from a businessman to keep his security contract with the municipality.

The ANC removed Matika as mayor and councillor on September 18, after he and the ward 7 councillor were named as SACP candidates for the November 4 local government elections.

SACP Western Cape provincial secretary Benson Ngqentsu told IOL the party would issue a full statement once it had gathered and verified enough information.

"We also hope that the latest developments in Knysna, including the arrests announced on Thursday by the SAPS, are not driven by palace politics, political manoeuvring, backstabbing or attempts to tarnish the image and reputation of anyone affected," Ngqentsu said.

"The SACP remains firmly committed to the fight against corruption, accountability and transparency, while upholding the constitutional principle that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"We have confidence in the rule of law, and this is what we expect will prevail."

ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said the party would respond once it had more information.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the three were arrested by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team and were due in court next week Monday.

"The arrests follow information received by the police regarding allegations that a businessman who had been awarded a security services contract was being solicited for kickbacks in exchange for the continuation of the contract," Mathe said.

"It is alleged that the businessman had already paid hundreds of thousands of rands out of fear that his security services contract would be terminated."

Though Mathe's statement described Matika as the mayor, he is in fact the former mayor.

Matika would not accept his removal.

When the council met on Wednesday for its final ordinary meeting of the term, he and the ward 7 councillor took their seats at the council table.

Willemse opened the meeting by telling them they were no longer councillors and asking them to move to the public gallery or leave the chamber.

"This office and the office of the [municipal manager] has been informed of their removal by their former party and therefore they are no longer councillors," Willemse said.

"It is not up to the IEC to declare the vacancy."

DA councillor Jason White told the meeting the vacancy had taken effect on the day the ANC informed the municipal manager's office, and warned the speaker that the proceedings were irregular while the two men stayed at the table.

"I am cautioning the council once again," White said.

"The process is irregular by you permitting Mr Matika and Mr [ward 7 councillor] to remain around this table while we proceed with this process."

When the two men were still in their seats after the council had voted on another item, Willemse called for law enforcement.

"I'm requesting law enforcement," Willemse said.

"I would like the members of the public to be removed from around the council chamber.

"I'm waiting for law enforcement, or allowing that the two members remove themselves without law enforcement. I'm giving that opportunity."

Councillor Susan Campbell told the meeting the council could not carry on without knowing who its mayor was.

"Though we probably don't hear councillor Matika, he alleges that he is still a councillor and he has not been removed," Campbell said.

"If he's correct, and I don't say he is, then he's the mayor."

The meeting collapsed without a quorum at 11.41am, with only nine councillors left in the chamber.

Councillor Sebach told the meeting it was the sixth consecutive meeting that councillors had either stayed away from or collapsed.

Deputy mayor Morton Gericke has been acting mayor since Matika's removal.

Matika became mayor in March 2025, after his ANC colleague Aubrey Tsengwa was removed in a motion of no confidence brought by coalition partner the EFF.

Tsengwa, by then the ward 8 councillor, was shot dead in Joodsekamp on August 19.

Police said a gunman walked up to his car, opened fire and ran off on foot.

The next night, former ward 7 councillor Mandla Matiwane, 47, and taxi leader Mandla Tyololo, 48, were shot dead in their vehicle in Bongani.

Ngubo, one of the officials arrested on Thursday, confirmed in August that the municipality had put extra security on councillors after the killings, and that some had been moved to safe houses.