GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Dr Beyers Naude Municipality has been served with a legal notice about their intention to alienate a number of municipal properties.
The legal notice, served on 22 February, was issued by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) on behalf of the Service Delivery Movement (SDM), a community based organisation representing members from Graaff-Reinet, Nieu Bethesda, Aberdeen, Jansenville, Klipplaat, Steytlerville, Willowmore and Rietbron.
The municipality's intention to alienate (sell) 12 municipal properties, was published on the municipal website on 11 December 2020, in terms of which the public was invited to submit comment before 11 January 2021.
The SDM believes the municipality contravened sections 17 and 21(1) of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000 by failing to put in place systems enabling community participation in the decision-making process and not making use of any other means or platform to create public awareness.
The SDM says the local authority must keep in mind that municipal land and property actually belongs to the community.
Vlakte muddle
The 12 properties that the municipality intends to dispose of include, among others, the Urquhart caravan park, the Palms (old municipal swimming pool), the botanical gardens, the golf club, the airfield, the brick fields, and the quarry in Graaff-Reinet.
It also includes Fonteinbos Nature Reserve outside Aberdeen, Hardwood farm in the Klipplaat area and Karoo Vlakte farm, both of which are commonage farms being utilised by small-scale farmers.
According to the municipal advert, Karoo Vlakte farm is in the Nieu Bethesda area but both Mawande Toyi, extension officer of the Department of Agriculture in Graaff-Reinet, and Jerome Arries, chairperson of Zingisa emerging farmers in Jansenville, say Karoo Vlakte is located in the Jansenville area.
The farm is used by Zingisa emerging farmers who have no access to alternative agricultural land.
Makes sense, but...
Danie Bezuidenhout, the caucus leader of the DA in the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality, says in principle, the DA supports the decision to sell municipal property that have become a financial burden.
"It makes sense to dispose of these properties and allow it to be developed to the benefit of the community." He made it clear that proper procedures have to be followed with full public participation.
Amos Mcinga, spokesperson of the Service Delivery Movement, says they are not saying that the municipality should not sell the properties - but public consultation is crucial. They want the municipality to explain what led to the financial crisis that now demands the sale of property that "do not belong to the municipality but to the community".
According to Mcinga, mismanagement has created the dire situation that Dr Beyers Naude Municipality finds itself in. He says a major concern is vandalisation, in spite of an alleged R1,2 million contract with a security company to safeguard public property.
Another concern is that the municipality has been unable to secure payment of thousands of rand in terms of the Urquhart Caravan Park lease agreement.
The derelict municipal swimming pool is a breeding ground for crime. Photo: Chriszanne Janse van Vuuren
Pool party
The Palms, the old municipal swimming pool, has been vandalised beyond repair. Residents of the Graaff-Reinet Horseshoe feel threatened as the building has now become home to vagrants, resulting in an increase in break-ins. One of the illegal occupiers at the pool has been terrorising residents for weeks, and according to Smhart security, they are at their wits' end.
The Graaff-Reinet Police say they can not effect an arrest unless the suspect is caught red-handed or in possession of stolen goods.
Ward counselor Ricardo Smith has raised the issue with officials after it was brought it to his attention by resident Elizabeth Buisman. Bennie Arends, Director of Infrastructure Services informed Smith that he had spoken to the Director of Community Services and that they are considering posting a guard at the building. Many residents feel that demolishing the building is the only solution.
New notice
The municipality has since removed the original notice that appeared on its website in December 2020, and posted a notice on the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser website. The notice also appears on page 22 of this paper.
In terms of this notice, members of the public are invited to submit comment before 12:00 on Friday, 19 March 2021.
But, according to Mcinga, the municipality is still acting in contravention of the Municipal Systems Act, since the notice was published in English only, while section 21(2) requires it to be published in the official languages determined by council, having regard to the language preferences and usage within the area.
Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality is yet to respond to several questions posed by the Advertiser.
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