HERMANUS – Local community activist Pat Redford was involved in a tense altercation with Mayor Archie Klaas this morning.
During a meeting break, Redford placed a note on the Mayor’s desk demanding that he “pay back the money.” She was referring to R250,000 disbursed from the Mayor’s Fund for the Milkwood Festival in Zwelihle. Originally scheduled for October 2025, the festival never took place, leaving the whereabouts of the funds unaccounted for.
After establishing that Redford had left the note, Mayor Klaas sat beside her and reprimanded her sharply. A defiant Redford later insisted that ratepayers’ money was involved and the municipality must be held accountable.
At the July council meeting, Mayor Klaas announced that the festival had been rescheduled for the end of August. With the end of August now here and no festival in sight, Whalecoastreport approached the Mayor following this morning’s meeting for clarity.
Mayor Klaas confirmed the festival will still go ahead, citing delays caused by prescribed municipal compliance processes taking longer than expected. He added that he is not involved in the operational arrangements and maintained that responsibility lies with the recipients of the funding.
Whalecoastreport recently reported that AfriForum has lodged a criminal charge at the Hermanus police station regarding the festival’s funding.
What do you think?
Comments
Archie Klaas should pay back the money.
He has no right to lecture Pat Redford, who keeps a beady eye on what is happening inside the Overstrand Municipality.
Ratepayers across the Overstrand are concerned about Klaas' breach of governance. He should be taken to task by the DA as a matter of urgency.