GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Well-known local resident Eira Maasdorp is becoming very frustrated at the state of some of the heritage properties and attractions in Graaff-Reinet, and has roped in Graaff-Reinet's SAPS Station Commander Colonel Jonathan van der Rheede to help put pressure on the municipality to attend to some of her more pressing concerns.
Rory Poggenpoel, Manager of Supply Chain and Assets, is also assisting Maasdorp in several areas by referring matters to the departments involved.
Of grave concern is the state of the old waterworks on the dam side of Cradock Street. The walls have been knocked down, and just the roof remains, and it is used for dumping rubble and other detritus from all and sundry. When Col van der Rheede made a site visit there, he found evidence that people had been sleeping on the property and signs of probable drug use.
In Maasdorp’s words, the building has become “a den of iniquity”. Col van der Rheede has tried to assist by contacting the relevant people at the municipality and has arranged for someone to keep a watch on the property.
The old water bailiff’s house on the Middelburg road also is down to almost only the roof, after being stripped, and another beautiful old building that seems to be falling part is 12 Market Square.
The railway station is yet another building that has deteriorated badly and is now just a shell. The late Teddy Whitlock went to a great deal of trouble many years ago to arrange for an old train engine to be displayed in Graaff-Reinet, but sadly over the years, most of the fittings have been stripped from it.
The most recent affront has been the damage to the tree outside Maasdorp’s business in Church Street. Vagrants and others used to congregate on the pavement in the shade of the tree, which caused a danger for pedestrians and discouraged visitors.
After many complaints, and after the vagrants being frequently chased away, this no longer happens, but a large part of the bark of the tree has now been stripped away, thought to be as an act of revenge. This is said to be the oldest tree in Church Street.
In addition to this, Maasdorp is concerned over houses in Graaff-Reinet that are painted in bright vivid colours with some being specifically identified by Maasdorp to the Advertiser as an eyesore and architectural bad manners.
According to Maasdorp, these buildings stand out amongst the classic green and white recommended by the Heritage Society for buildings of historic interest.
Maasdorp was one of the founder members of the local Heritage Society in 1970, and clearly still feels very passionate about preserving the history and heritage of the town, “All the brightly-coloured houses are removing the traditional character of our gem of the Karoo” she lamented.
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