Knysna Municipality continues to make significant progress in implementing the Section 154 Support Plan. The latest progress report, dated December 2024, served before Council at its meeting of 29 January 2025. Recent advancements have built upon previously reported improvements, with a focus on addressing financial sustainability, infrastructure development and enhanced public engagement.
Municipal Manager Lulamile Mapholoba emphasised the importance of these latest strides. “The past few months have been critical in deepening our commitment to governance stability and service delivery. We are moving beyond foundational efforts towards tangible, long-term improvements,” he said.
The near completion of the Organisational Structure Review, which is set to streamline operations and optimise staffing levels, is one of the key updates contained in the report. The finalisation of critical appointments, including several managerial roles, has strengthened municipal leadership, ensuring better oversight and efficiency.
On the financial front, the Audit Action Plan is now 97% complete, marking a significant milestone in resolving previous compliance issues. Meanwhile, smart meter implementation continues to expand, enhancing revenue collection efficiency. The municipality has also adopted a comprehensive Budget Funding Plan to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.
Efforts to enhance public participation have led to the introduction of a revised stakeholder engagement model. This includes a reactivated consultation database to improve communication between the municipality and community organisations.
“We are well aware of the challenges we face and are committed to tackle them head on,” said Mapholoba. “Highlighting our difficulties in terms of waste management, issues at the wastewater treatment works and sewage overflow from blocked wastewater infrastructure, we have received a letter of intent to issue two notices from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.”
The department delivered its intention to issue a Coastal Protection Notice and a Compliance Notice, in terms of the relevant legislation, to Mapholoba in a letter dated 30 January 2025. This letter of intent follows site inspections conducted by Environmental Management Inspectors from the department, South African National Parks and the Breede-Olifants Catchment Management Agency at the wastewater treatment works (WWTW) and various manholes and pumpstations within the municipal area. The municipality has 14 calendar days from the receipt of this letter to provide the department with written reasons as to why it should not exercise its discretion in terms of the administrative notices.
“We are already implementing steps to address these issues in terms of the Section 154 Support Plan,” Mapholoba explained. “These include identifying and eliminating the causes of blockages at manholes and the WWTW, and taking measures to repair and maintain our sewerage and treatment infrastructure. We are committed to ensure the optimum functionality of this infrastructure to protect the environmental integrity of our estuary and coastal area at large.”
The development of the Water Services Master Plan has progressed with the assistance of the Department of Water and Sanitation. It focuses on finalising a five-year reliability study and updating the Water Services Development Plan in collaboration with the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent. The WWTW refurbishment plan is advancing, with an environmental authorisation process to address regulatory requirements underway. A service provider has been appointed to manage mechanical and electrical repairs and preliminary cost estimates of R3 million have been allocated for short-term improvements.
“Looking ahead, the focus remains on fully aligning with the Section 154 and Section 139 interventions, completing all outstanding recruitment and ensuring the effective implementation of strategic service delivery projects,” Mapholoba concluded. “The momentum we’ve gained is encouraging, but we recognise that sustained effort and collaboration are essential for lasting change.”