Residents take action against auction

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GRAAFF-REINET NEWS & VIDEOS - Graaff-Reinet residents, who have been opposing the alienation of municipal assets, delivered a petition with 425 signatures to Ewald Loock, the mayor of the Dr Beyers Naude Local Local Municipality, on Tuesday 22 March.

In terms of the petition, they called for the cancellation of the private auction scheduled for Thursday 24 March to allow for proper public consultation.

Given the urgency of the matter, they demanded a response before the end of the day, failing which they will revert to intensified public protest.

Loock explained that the matter is administrative and therefore the municipal manager is the appropriate person to respond to it. According to him the municipality’s executive powers lies with the executive committee and municipal council, and he, as the mayor of the municipality, merely holds the position of chairperson of this executive committee with no executive powers.

He added that the municipal manager will have to sort out the matter since it is what he gets paid for. Loock committed to handing over the petition to the municipal manager but by the closing of office on 22 March residents received no response.

Sias Smith handing over the petition with 425 signatures to Honorable Ewald Loock.

When Sias Smith, convener of the newly established Save DBNLM movement, informed Loock that no response has been received, Loock confirmed that he delivered the petition to the municipal manager shortly after 08:00 on 22 March and that the municipal manager committed to formulating a response.

Sias Smith expressed his disappointment in the failure of the municipal manager to respond stating that a response, whether positive or negative, was the least that was expected.

Shortly after, a letter, signed by Loock, was delivered to Smith acknowledging receipt of the letter submitted on 16 March. No response to the petition was received.

As residents were preparing for intensified protest action this morning, Smith was informed by the speaker that the auctioneers and Steering Committee will meet today to discuss the postponement of the auction.

A request was made that the auctioneers should be allowed to enter the building without having to fear for their safety. Residents are now awaiting feedback from the meeting and the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser will keep readers informed.