KNYSNA – The political landscape in Knysna has reached a boiling point following a bitter public feud between the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The dispute, centred on allegations of disinformation and local government coalitions, has now spilled over into both criminal charges and detailed public disclosures.

Criminal charges laid over social media disinformation

KIM has officially laid criminal charges against the DA and its constituency head, Ryan Smith, accusing the party of running a coordinated smear campaign on Instagram and Facebook. According to KIM the DA has repeatedly and falsely claimed that KIM is part of a local government coalition with the ANC, PA, PBI, and EFF.

KIM states such a disinformation campaign is designed to mislead voters into believing that a vote for KIM is a vote for the ANC. Because efforts to engage the DA to halt the ads failed KIM opened a criminal case, citing a contravention of Section 69(2)(c) read with Section 79 of Chapter 7 of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, 2000. The offence carries penalties of a fine or imprisonment for up to 10 years.

The DA’s counter-attack

Responding to the legal action DA Constituency Head Ryan Smith dismissed KIM’s criminal case and pointed to KIM’s institutional role in the municipality. The DA argues that KIM holds two powerful, well-paid positions secured with the backing of the ANC, PA, EFF and PBI, while the DA abstained from those votes.

According to the DA Councillor Mark Willemse serves as Speaker, earning an annual salary of R709 349, and Councillor Susan Campbell serves as chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), earning R651 654 per annum.

These figures are based on the June 2022 Government Gazette under the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act 1998, giving them salaries more than double those of ordinary opposition councillors.

“If KIM is indeed not part of Knysna’s coalition of chaos, why do they hold positions in which they enjoy higher salaries and benefits than opposition councillors?” Smith asked, challenging KIM councillors to resign and pay back the additional money earned since May 2025. The DA further criticized MPAC’s leadership under Campbell, arguing that maladministration has worsened rather than improved.

Setting the record straight

In a comprehensive statement addressing the DA’s allegations KIM’s Campbell strongly rejected claims that the party has ever formed part of an ANC-led coalition.

Campbell outlined the history of council dynamics following the November 2021 election, where the DA secured 8 seats and KIM 2, falling one seat short of an 11-seat majority.

According to Campbell after the 2021 election KIM was approached by the ANC, PA and PBI to form a government (with Willemse offered Mayor position and Campbell a seat on the Mayco), but declined because they could not deliver on their mandate under an ANC-led arrangement. Instead, KIM signed a formal coalition with the DA, which governed until August 2022 before being voted out by the opposition block.

In early 2025, amid leadership instability, KIM reached out to DA leaders Helen Zille and Tertius Simmers offering support for a DA mayoral and deputy mayoral candidate. Campbell stated that Simmers did not respond, while Zille explicitly declined, stating the DA was not interested in running a minority government.

Smith similarly dismissed an opportunity in March 2025, saying the council was too fractured. Following this, KIM’s nomination of Campbell for Deputy Mayor was undermined by eight spoilt votes originating from the DA.

When Willemse was nominated unopposed as Speaker at the end of May 2025 he accepted the role to secure a casting vote. He used this exact casting vote to stop a salary increase and back pay for councillors, saving the municipality over R1 million.

Campbell concluded that while the DA chose to sit on the sidelines calling for administration and distributing disinformation KIM has consistently worked to hold corrupt councillors accountable and protect ratepayers.

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