DA needs FF+, Knysna Civic Association to govern

Daily Maverick · Marianne Merten · 2026-11-06 16:13 UTC

Southern Cape tourism hub Knysna remains a hung council, as the DA failed to make sufficient gains for outright control in the 4 November local elections. The seaside town is one of the 19 councils, representing some three-quarters of the Western Cape’s 25 councils, where the DA on Friday afternoon, 6 November, was in the lead but not in control.

Knysna has a long-standing history of political instability amid coalition-making – and coalition-breaking – since 2016, with more recent problems including corruption and non-functioning sewerage pumps.

In October 2026, ex-mayor Thando Matika, the then acting municipal manager Boy Ngubo and acting chief financial officer Busisiwe Lubelwana were arrested and released on bail in connection with kickbacks linked to a security tender.

The council clashed with DA local government MEC Anton Bredell, who successfully opposed Ngubo’s appointment, and also went to court over provincial attempts in 2025 to dissolve the council in terms of section 139 of the Constitution.

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