After the Knysna council elected to relocate to new offices in 2023, municipal manager Ombali Sebola was tasked with negotiating municipal rates and services with the owners of the Knysna Shopping Mall during a council meeting on Tuesday.
The council aims to secure office space from Grey Elephant Investment starting from March 1, with a monthly rental amount set at R546,000.
But EFF councillor Neil Louw raised concerns regarding a dispute with the company.
The exact details of the dispute are unknown.
DA councillor Sharon Sabbagh said more clarity was needed before the move as the municipal service charges were unknown.
But ANC councillor Thando Matika said the council decided in October for the municipal offices to be relocated.
“The motion mentioned [on Tuesday] is to make people aware of which offices will be moving to what building.”
Offices included are the finance department’s income section, motor vehicle registration, licence registration and planning and development.
“We will move to the building as soon as the negotiations of rates and utilities are in order,” Matika said.
Knysna Independent Movement councillor Susan Campbell was against the move.
“Since 2020, we have paid exorbitant office rent through a deviation. It can’t be justified.”
HeraldLIVE
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