Anton Bredell, the Western Cape’s Member of the Executive Council for Local Government, has warned that Knysna faces a further breakdown in basic service delivery after the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) rejected a provincial intervention to save the failing town.

The town is currently governed by a coalition, anchored by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA). Previously the town was governed by a Democratic Alliance (DA) coalition which broke up in August of 2022 when the PA defected to join the ANC in coalition. Subsequently, there has been a sharp deterioration in governance and service delivery.

The Western Cape government had sought to invoke section 139 of the Constitution, which would have dissolved the municipal council and placed the Garden Route town under administration. Bredell said this step would have allowed for independent oversight and the deployment of extra resources to stabilise governance.

Instead, the NCOP found, based on submissions from local councillors, unions, stakeholders, and the South African Local Government Association, that Knysna had not failed in its constitutional duties. That ruling prevents provincial intervention and leaves the current council in charge of recovery efforts.

Bredell criticised the decision, arguing that the evidence shows a different reality. “Raw sewage is flowing into homes, streets, and stormwater drains and into the Knysna estuary. This is a massive health and environmental risk and will have severe consequences if it is not addressed swiftly,” he said.

He added that without the intervention, the province’s “hands are tied” while coalition parties in Knysna “have used their majority in the NCOP to prevent it [provincial intervention].”