Ward 7 councillor 'suffers blackout'

ABERDEEN NEWS - About 20 residents from Ward 7, geographically the biggest ward in Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality, eagerly gathered at the Aberdeen Library hall on Wednesday 4 April for a community meeting by its ward councillor, Nathan Jacobs - only his second since the election.

However, the eagerness was in vain. Neither the councillor nor any ward committee member showed up. Initially the meeting was scheduled for 28 March at 18:00, but at about 15:30 Clr Jacobs cancelled the meeting and postponed it to Tuesday 4 April.

Since some are elderly and others have to drive to town from surrounding farms, several people requested to be alerted only once the councillor showed up.

Although one of the resident PR-councillors, Clr Van Heerden tried to contact Jacobs telephonically, the councillor proved unreachable the entire Tuesday evening. Disillusioned residents, some who had urgent issues to discuss, dispersed at around 18:45.

On Wednesday 5 April Jacobs responded to a query from Graaff-Reinet Advertiser saying he had experienced a medical black out on Tuesday afternoon due to chronic diabetes.

Since he "was completely out of it" he simply could not alert anybody that he would be unable to chair the meeting. "Residents need to understand I have no control over my health - none of us have," he appealed.

Jacobs gave the undertaking to formally apologise to constituents. "I will apologise formally to everyone as I have to reschedule my meetings for the entire ward."

By Tuesday 11 April residents were still in the dark, with not even ward committee members giving an explanation or apology.

Residents gathering for the meeting that never happened. Photos: Lizzy van der Merwe