Arty protest as deadline looms

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In response to the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality’s notice of intention to alienate Fonteinbos, a nature reserve with a freshwater spring in the Aberdeen area, Eric Cronje, a local Aberdeen artist, has created a public community art panel against the proposed sale. Members of the community are invited to support the protest by adding their own drawings or slogans to the panel.

The Fonteinbos spring is used by various communities in the area. The Charismatic Church uses the spring to baptise their church members and the Rastafarians also use the spring for religious purposes.

Both these institutions consider the nature reserve and the spring to be a spiritual place. Church elders from different church denominations also go up to the mountain in the nature reserve to pray for rain. In addition to the nature reserve being considered a spiritual place, there is also the very real issue of land - people do not want their land to be taken away.

Aberdeen artist, Eric Cronje, at the public art protest panel.

Deadline - 19 March
In terms of a notice published by the municipality in the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser on 22 February, members of the public are invited to submit comment on the intended alienation of 12 identified municipal properties before 12:00 this Friday, 19 March.

The properties that the municipality wish to sell are:

• Camp 39 and quarry - Erf 3908
• Urquart Park Caravan site - Erf 1814
• Botanics - Erf 7450
• Palms - Erven 1 & 2
• Montego offsite parking - Erf 8823
• Vacant - Erf 8824
• Brickfields - Erf 1814
• Golf Club - Erf 1001
• Hardwood farm
• Karoo Vlakte farm - Nieu-Bethesda (The location as provided by the municipality is in dispute - it is believed to be in the Jansenville area.)
• Airfield - Erf 1814
• Fonteinbos - Erf 1721

Comment must be marked for the attention of the Municipal Manager, deposited in the official tender box, Robert Sobukwe Building, Corner of College Road and Oval Drive, Graaff-Reinet.

Members of the community adding their voice by hand to the protest.