(Picture:- Knysna’s Executive Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa may have some convincing to do on Wednesday 31 May)

The barrage of public objections to the 2023 – 2024 Municipal Budget sent to the authorities by the 19 May deadline has certainly made a difference – but residents will have to wait until this afternoon (31 May) to know if any changes are going to be substantial enough. The council will debate the Knysna Municipality’s Final 2023-2024 Medium Term Framework Budget report at 11:00 in the Council Chambers.
There is little doubt that this will result in hours of heated discussion.
In the Councillors’ Workshop held on Thursday, 25 May, Executive Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa reportedly opened with the following comments:“We have taken the budget to all 11 Wards. What transpired out of the process is serious outcries in terms of the rates increases in almost all Wards, and we have received an influx of comments from the public. We will draft a consolidated response to the Public Participation written submissions.
“We have dealt with some of the comments, and we, the Government, have listened to the people by recommending that the overall increase in property rates be reduced from 33% down to 17% to meet people halfway and the 18.65% increase in electricity we have considered reducing to 15%.”
He added a caution, however. “These amendments, as a result of the outcry and the Government meeting the people halfway, will result in a deficit of R59 million.”
The Acting Chief Financial Officer, Londiwe Sotshede, concurred, stating that“The implementation of the new GENERAL Valuation Roll has caused a big outcry from customers whose properties have increased in value by more than 100% and Provincial Treasury has recommended a reduction in the rate in the Rand as per regulations, together with an adjustment downwards in the electricity tariff. This reduction has resulted in a decrease in the overall property rates revenue by R39 million and electricity revenue by R16.7 million. It is now proposed that the exclusion threshold be amended and will now remain as per last year at R50 000. The tariff for residential properties will be reduced by 10%, and the tariff for business properties will be reduced by 9%”.
Ward 9 Councillor Sharon Sabbagh, who has been at the forefront of the fight to have the budget drastically changed and submitted an objection petition with over 4500 signatures objecting to the tabled document, is convinced that the amendments proposed are nowhere near enough.
“My view is that this is NOT acceptable; however, I await the Amended Budget & IDP before commenting further,” she said. “It’s important that we save Knysna from this illegal budget. Otherwise, we will end up with a ghost town where most people can’t afford to live.”
She has called for residents of Greater Knysna to show their dissatisfaction by attending the council meeting en masse.
“Council meetings are open to the public, and residents have every right to attend. Please do,” she enthused, “It is time the residents make their voices heard,” she said, encouraging people to bring placards to show solidarity as the petition is presented to the Mayor and Municipal Manager.”
Asked for comment, Sedgefield Ratepayers and Residents Association (SR&RA) Chairman Andy Brough said, “We believe that ratepayers will see an adjusted cent in the rand on property rates; however, the Municipality must ensure the alignment of the entire budget with the integrated development plan (IDP). SR&RA notes that the IDP is still under review. Mayor Tsengwa assures us he has heard the Sedgefield community’s concerns, but it still needs to be determined how service delivery will be achieved at the ward level. Even if this budget is passed, legislation stipulates that the Municipality must conduct its affairs in a manner consistent with the IDP.”
Sedgefield residents are also eager to see if the funds allocated in previous years for housing in Smutsville but not specifically mentioned in the proposed 2023-2024 budget document, will reappear.

2023 SIMOLA HILLCLIMB SET TO DELIVER FAN-FRIENDLY AUTOMOTIVE EXTRAVAGANZA

• Fan Fest, street parades and a chance to see the cars and drivers up-close at official scrutineering add to the excitement and adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere before the Simola Hillclimb even starts.

• Gasoline Alley offers some of the best views of the event with a variety of activities, exhibitors, food and beverage vendors to make it a fun-filled family affair.

• Demonstration runs from event partners add to the spectacle, including exciting products from Suzuki, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen.

If the country’s most spectacular and fastest cars are your thing, there’s only one place to be from 4 to 7 May 2023, and that’s at the 13th edition of the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna.
This year’s event will be bigger and better on all fronts, and that doesn’t just apply to the extraordinary road and race cars that will aggressively speed up the 1.9 km Simola Hill, or the dazzling list of top-tier local drivers and some high-profile international drivers such as WRC and WRX champion Petter Solberg who will be in the mix.

There is truly something for everyone, with plenty of attractions to get your adrenaline flowing – even before fans make their way to the event itself, with Classic Car Friday taking place on 5 May, followed by King of the Hill on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 May.

“Classic Car Friday and King of the Hill are obviously the main attractions at the Simola Hillclimb, but there is so much more to this event to enthral motoring and motorsport enthusiasts of all ages and interests, including a Fan Fest and the popular street parades,” says Ian Shrosbree, Managing Director of the Knysna Speed Festival which owns the Simola Hillclimb. “This all helps build the atmosphere and excitement leading into the main events and allows all of Knysna’s residents to enjoy a part of the Hillclimb.”

The Fan Fest precinct will include the Knysna High School grounds and surrounding roads on Thursday and Friday (4 and 5 May) from 11h00, with free access to see the wide range of new cars that will be on display along with other motoring-related items and goods for sale.

Eager enthusiasts who would like to see the cars set to compete in the event close-up before the action commences can head to Hedge Street in Knysna for the official scrutineering, which takes place from 09h00 to 14h30 on Thursday 4 May for Classic Car Friday entrants, and the same time the next day for all King of the Hill competitors.

Nothing beats the sights and sounds of these spectacular cars on the move, and the street parades are always among the major event highlights. Be sure to secure your spot along the scenic Waterfront Drive on Thursday 4 May from 14h45 to 15h15 to see the classic cars parading by, and on Friday from 17h15 to 17h45 for the road cars and pure race-bred machines that will compete in King of the Hill.

Enthusiasts who have secured their tickets to South Africa’s premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event can look forward to plenty of further attractions once through the gates into the Simola Hillclimb.

Gasoline Alley is the main public viewing area to see the cars charging up the steep Simola Hill. It has some of the best views of the track and, of course, the scenic Knysna Heads and estuary as a breathtaking backdrop.

A variety of local food vendors, exhibitors and a public bar will be available in Gasoline Alley, along with a jumping castle to keep the young kids under 12 entertained. Older children and adults can get their pulses racing by testing their driving skills on the ATK Esports Racing Simulators, and families are invited to bring along chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy all the Simola Hillclimb has to offer.
In between the practice and qualifying runs, spectators will be treated to demonstration runs up the Simola Hill featuring motorcycles and cars, including the latest two-wheeled machines from Suzuki which is a Tier 1 partner.

“We are very excited to be doing lunchtime exhibition runs with our Suzuki motorcycles for the third year running,” says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager at Suzuki Auto South Africa. “This year we have Jaco Viviers of Suzuki Richards Bay piloting the latest version of the Suzuki GSX-R1000R up the hill. Chris Kuun from Suzuki Auto SA will be riding the recently launched Suzuki DL 1050 DE V-Strom adventure bike which will be another first at the Simola Hillclimb.”

As another Tier 1 partner, BMW will be doing demonstration runs up the Simola Hill with the latest BMW M5 and X6M. Outside of the main event, BMW will also participate in a special parade lap through Knysna in celebration of the company’s 50th Jubilee in South Africa. This will include classic cars from BMW car clubs that will be in attendance.

Honda is a Tier 2 partner and will be doing demonstration runs with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade superbike and its newly launched Civic Type R, with the Japanese manufacturer also confirming that Deon Joubert will be competing in King of the Hill in this exciting new performance model. Volkswagen, also a Tier 2 partner, will reveal a new racing car during lunch time on Saturday.

Monster Energy Drinks will be back in action with its crowd-favourite Mustang drift car smoking its tyres on the hill with Jason Webb at the wheel, while Brent Le Riche will entertain the crowd with his incredible trials bike skills.

Time is running out fast with just one day to go before Knysna comes alive with the most spectacular automotive extravaganza in South Africa – so don’t miss out, get your tickets today!

Purchase your tickets online
Tickets can be purchased on the event website (www.simolahillclimb.com), with the prices for General Entry remaining unchanged from last year. Upgrades are available for Pit Access, Turn 2 Grandstand seating and VIP Parking.

(picture: World #1 David Morgan Smith (left) training with fellow walker Nic Brummer)

Sedgefielder Dave Morgan-Smith has been ranked the fasted race walker in the world for his age group.
Dave, who recently turned 85, had previously been ranked 3rd in the 80-85 age category, but now, according to current World Master Athletics Rankings, he has the fastest time worldwide for racewalkers 85+.
Dave was something of an athlete in his early years; at one time he even held the Eastern Province record for 880 Yards. But when his children came along, he retired from running to attend to their sporting achievements.
In 2002 a somewhat older Dave started race walking and has been an outstanding competitor ever since. He has successfully competed in countless provincial and national championships for which Sedgefield residents will doubtless have seen him training – pounding the streets at an admirable pace.
Race walking is believed to have originated in the Victorian era (1837-1901), when noblemen used to bet on their footmen as they walked alongside the horse-driven coaches. Subsequently, it became an official athletics event and is now permanently featured in the Olympics.
Race walking differs from running (where an athlete often has both feet off the ground during a sprint), in that competitive walkers must have one foot in contact with the ground at all times.
Dave comfortably walks at 7.5 min per km during his training sessions; that is 8 km per hour!
In a recent race over 10km, he finished in just over 72 minutes. If one were to adjust this time to compare it with that of a 20 to 30-year-old, his time would equate to 41min 37 seconds; truly world-class! It is no wonder he’s the fastest in the world.
Dave, we salute you!

Whilst Knysna police are still investigating the tragic murder of a man in Sedgefield yesterday (Tuesday, 24 Jan), there is speculation that his death was the result of mob justice.
At around 7 am, residents of Disa and Agapanthus streets heard much shouting and screaming as a group of between ten and fifteen men chased another man as he ran from the dune stairs, down Aloe Street and onto Disa Street.
One resident (name withheld) was out walking with children in the area but quickly returned home on seeing the angry crowd running towards them along the road.
When the noise had subsided, another resident (name withheld) went to the scene to investigate the reason for the commotion and discovered a body on an empty plot in Agapanthus Street. By this time, the crowd had disappeared.
The resident contacted Sedgefield’s SAPS office, and members came to the scene to investigate.
In answer to our enquiries about the incident, Media Information Officer Sergeant Chris Spies said that the officers had received the alert at approximately 07:20 and were informed that a group had fatally assaulted a man by hurling stones and bricks at him.
“Upon arrival, they found the body of a man, believed to be in his early thirties, with several wounds inflicted to his head,” he stated, adding that after paramedics had declared the man dead on the scene, a murder docket was opened.
Whilst circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation, and the motive for the killing is yet to be formally established by SAPS, reliable sources have reported that minutes before his death, the man had attacked another man on the stairway that leads over the dune, stabbing him in the arm in an attempt to rob him. Thereafter, his injured victim had reportedly given chase, with at least ten others joining him along the way – hence the shouting that ensued.
Residents in the area described how, in a seemingly desperate effort to escape the angry mob, the man had run into a property on Disa Street, then started jumping from garden to garden, over walls and fences. However, he was unable to elude his pursuers for too long as they caught up with him on Agapanthus Street.
It is unknown if anyone – other than those chasing him – witnessed the fatal assault on the man, so who and how many men took part will be left to SAPS to investigate.
At time of going to press, the name of the deceased had not been released, and those responsible for his death were still at large.