Embattled Knysna Mayor Mark Willemse says he will be seeking an urgent court interdict to overturn a Democratic Alliance decision to refuse his application to be re-admitted as a member of the party.
The DA says the reason for the cessation of his membership was due to the outcome of a vote of no confidence in him by his caucus.
The DA's Constituency Head for Knysna, Dr Dion George, says as far as they're concerned, Willemse is no longer the mayor of Knysna or a councillor of the Municipality and as a direct result - the mayoral committee has automatically dissolved.
"It was a process that started a long time ago," said Dr George. "Mr Willemse was occupying the Knysna Mayoral position against the wishes of the DA and its processes so this is the inevitable outcome for him. He did get the opportunity to resign as Mayor which he didn't want to do so we utilised the necessary clauses in the constitution after the caucus voted a vote of no confidence in him. They have no confidence in him and therefore there's no reason for him to stay."
Willemse told AlgoaFM News that he was disappointed in the DA decision and that his legal team will be filing its head of argument and affidavits to oppose the matter in court on Friday.
"I'm bitterly disappointed in the DA leadership's decision to revoke my membership. I've been a loyal DA member for a long time and I've always upheld the principles and policies of the party. It is my contestation and that of my legal team that I remain a member of the DA and we are now going to fight the matter in court. Hopefully, the court will be in a position to make a ruling on the interdict by early next week."
