ABERDEEN NEWS - A Ward 7 meeting held in the Aberdeen Library Hall on 8 March was well attended, with numbers boosted by the attendance by several of those involved in the Revivify Aberdeen project.
Ward councillor Rudy Jacobs, who chaired the meeting, mentioned that there are only six active portfolios on the ward committee. He introduced those ward committee members that were present, and explained that the portfolios for religion, business (based in Adendorp), health, and women and the disabled were currently vacant. It is unclear when these positions will be filled.
The next matter up for discussion was the application for liquor licences for two adjacent business properties. The owners of the Karroo Butchery have applied to change the business to a bottle store, and Van Lingen de Beer was at the meeting to answer questions from those present. Jan Hendrik Jordaan, owner of the Foodzone franchise, explained that the application comes from the franchise’s Board of Directors, but was happy to answer questions concerning his plans. He stressed that the Liquorzone outlet would have a separate entrance to the main grocery store, and the current building would be extended.
Quite a few members of the community present objected to the proposals and plans the two applicants put forward. Objections about the safety of people; lack of public facilities like toilets; lack of law enforcement and public health issues were raised, as well as the need for more bottle stores in town.
Two special attendance registers were signed by all that attend the meeting, and these will be sent by the applicants with all the other forms to the Liquor Board. Cllr Jacobs will add the Community Report as well as the Ward Committee report.
The next item to be discussed was the ward budget. Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality allocated R100 000 per ward to be used to fund a project, event or programme in the ward, with very strict conditions attached. Cllr Jacobs proposed three projects, two of which were relevant to Aberdeen. The first was the building of speed bumps in Andries Pretorius and Hope Streets, and the second was to replace the missing road signs in Aberdeen town.
Cllr Jacobs expressed his wish that Ward 7 members and Aberdeen Revivify should work together for the betterment of the town. Every first Saturday of the month, after payday, there will be a combined effort to clean up the town, starting at the crossing in front of Usave.
Many complaints were voiced about the municipal refuse dump and the lack of service at the municipal office.
Cllr Jacobs mentioned that he had personally invited the Municipal Manager, or any other official to represent him, to come and attend this meeting to answer questions about service delivery issues. No answer or response was received, and nobody turned up.
When a similar thing happened with the Adendorp section of ward 7, Cllr Jacobs told those present that the people of Adendorp decided to make the Municipality aware of their problems by disrupting a Special Council Meeting in Graaff-Reinet. This achieved its desired result, and the Mayor made a commitment to meet with the people of Adendorp. Cllr Jacobs proposed a petition of action, and a paper was sent around for people to write down issues with the Municipality and its employees in Aberdeen.
Mention was made of the situation at Aberdeen Hospital, where Dr Desemele has now been appointed as clinical manager. There are two new doctors at the hospital, on their community service year. Apparently it is proving difficult to keep professional nurses at the hospital.
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