Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Knysna come from
Every fact on the Knysna page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
As of 2 Oct 2026: A coalition of the ANC, EFF and Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) has governed Knysna since August 2022. The PA has withdrawn its support.
Daily Maverick. Published 2 October 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 7-8 and the correction note at the end
As of 2 Oct 2026: Knysna has had no elected mayor since 18 September 2026. On that day the ANC removed Thando Matika as mayor. Matika disputes his removal. A council meeting to elect a replacement did not reach a quorum (the minimum number of councillors who must be there).
Daily Maverick. Published 2 October 2026.
Where to look: paragraph 9
As of 23 Sep 2026: After the ANC removed Thando Matika as mayor, deputy mayor Morton Gericke is acting mayor until a new mayor is elected. The speaker (the councillor who chairs council meetings) is Mark Willemse.
EWN. Published 23 September 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1, 3 and 6
As of 26 Jun 2025: In June 2025 the Western Cape MEC for Local Government (a member of the province's cabinet) gave the Knysna municipality notice. He intended to intervene under Section 139 of the Constitution. He was considering recommending that the council be closed down early.
Daily Maverick. Published 26 June 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs beginning 'According to a media release by Bredell's office' and 'Bredell told the municipality he was considering'
As of 18 Mar 2025: ANC councillor Thando Matika was elected mayor of Knysna with no one running against him, at a special council meeting on 28 February 2025. He is the third mayor since the 2021 election, after Levael Davis (DA) and Aubrey Tsengwa (ANC). Knysna is led by a coalition of the ANC, PA and PBI.
Daily Maverick. Published 18 March 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs beginning 'Matika, an ANC councillor, spoke to Daily Maverick', 'He is the municipality's third mayor' and 'Knysna is led by a coalition'
As of 24 Nov 2021: After the 2021 election the DA took the post of mayor in Knysna.
Daily Maverick. Published 24 November 2021.
Where to look: paragraph 8
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 21 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 3 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). Democratic Alliance: 8 (5 ward, 3 party). African National Congress: 7 (6 ward, 1 party). Knysna Independent Movement: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Patriotic Alliance: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 21 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Knysna an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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