KNYSNA NEWS - A Democratic Alliance (DA) feedback meeting for Wards 9 and 10, to be held at the Angling Club at the Waterfront at 17:00 today (Thursday, November 12), could become a 'battlefield' of words, allegations and confrontation if one considers many Knysna residents' angry response to the Knysna Council's proposal to allow drinking at public areas.
According to some irate residents, the Knysna Municipal Council's proposal to allow the consumption of alcohol in public areas over the festive season may result in a hard blow for the DA, and councillors should be prepared to answer difficult questions from people who indicated that they would be at the meeting.
According to the invitation to the feedback meeting, the DA's intention is to to allow the guest of honour, DA MP and constituency head Jaco Londt to highlight "that next year's municipal election is a make or break opportunity for us to be able to achieve the results necessary to be able to govern in more municipalities so that we can move closer towards building a better South Africa for all, based on the values of freedom, fairness and opportunity".
However, the DA's election campaigning may be transcended by discussion of the controversial drinking proposal.
Ward 9 and 10 councillors, Mark Willemse and Peter Myers will also have to think hard to give sober answers to the drinking by-law questions.
On Tuesday, November 10, in a plea to Leisure Isle Residents Association (LIRA) members to attend the meeting, LIRA chairperson Keith Hollis wrote: "We strongly urge those who are members of the DA and who do not support the public drinking proposal, to please attend this meeting and take this opportunity to make 'our' voice heard."
Also on Tuesday, Hollis told the Knysna-Plett Herald that LIRA represented approximately 300 households. "We will be there in big numbers and present a LIRA position paper which is to be sent today (Tuesday, November 10) to the DA councillors, the municipal officials and certain prominent officials in the DA, including the national leader and the premier of the Western Cape, in addition to selected, affected individuals."
This letter, entitled Lira's Position on the Proposed Relaxation of the By-law Prohibiting the Drinking of Alcohol in Public, has been spread far and wide since it was first published.
The letter reads: "The residents of Leisure Isle (LI) have never claimed the exclusive use of public areas on Leisure Isle.
"The residents of Leisure Isle have never discouraged day visitors who are law-abiding and considerate of other visitors and residents.
"The residents of Leisure Isle have never denied that the use of alcohol is regarded as normal, and socially acceptable, and are not calling for a prohibition on the use of alcohol at either licensed or private premises.
"However, Leisure Isle residents, who contribute significantly to the rates income of Knysna Municipality (KM) together with all other ratepayers, expect KM to uphold and promote socially-acceptable standards of behaviour throughout the town.
"The Leisure Isle Residents Association (LIRA), as the voluntary organisation representing more than two thirds of the Leisure Isle’s ratepayers, has a right to insist that KM ensures that illegal and/or anti-social behaviour is not condoned, nor permitted on any part of Leisure Isle. LIRA will vigorously pursue this right.
"LIRA contends that the by-law prohibiting the use of alcohol in public at all times was put in place to counter unpleasant and anti-social behaviour. The many manifestations of anti-social behaviour probably resulted from the absence of inhibitions on the part of a minority of drunken individuals and groups.
"Leisure Isle is surrounded by the estuary, greatly increasing the risk of drownings due to an alcohol-impaired judgement in individuals, and the drowning of children who are not kept out of harm’s way by partying parents.
"LIRA further contends that the relaxation of the by-law will be a retrogressive step which will gain momentum in the public domain, driven by the aforementioned minority. This minority will claim their right to a place in the sun at the cost of the majority of Knysna residents. If the minority wins this right, the ambience of Knysna will be irreparably damaged, leading to a severe impact on tourism, which is universally acknowledged to be the life-blood of the local economy.
"An additional consequence will be the exit of retired persons and 'swallows' from Knysna, taking with them their contribution to the local economy, their contribution to the municipal rates income, as well as their contribution to many social upliftment initiatives.
"LIRA deplores the current, flawed process of consultation underway on this matter. The only consultation that should be undertaken is with directly affected wards. LIRA is very concerned that the debate appears to be one of political points (votes) scoring that, if true, would call into question the integrity and judgement of elected councillors.
"LIRA is confident that all thinking Knysna residents expect Knysna Municipality to be a vehicle for raising standards across the board, rather than capitulation to a minority which demands retrogression to the lowest common denominator."
In another email to the members of LIRA on Monday, November 9, Hollis wrote:
You are no doubt aware of this raging issue that has been much in the news in recent days. As the LIRA committee, we are appalled at this proposal to amend the by-law to allow the drinking of alcohol in public at selected public sites, during specified times and on specified days, over the festive season. These sites include Green Hole and Bollard Bay.
"Doubtless, you are aware of the security and anti-social behaviour problems we have experienced in past holiday seasons, and our subsequent enormous effort to lobby and advise KM to act responsibly and implement stricter enforcement and policing of the no-drinking by-law, with some improvements.
"This unfortunate new proposal - that overturns all these efforts and is legally dubious - was made at a recent meeting of the Mayoral Committee (Mayco). The Council will consider the proposal on December 10, after 'consultative meetings' are held in every ward.
"The general perception appears to be that the DA is complicit in recommending the proposal. If so, we consider that this is a betrayal of the residents of Leisure Isle (and other 'selected areas'), many of whom, we believe, support the DA."
The DA's campaign manager in Knysna, Cathy Weideman, said, "We are aware of the questions that are going to arise. Anybody is welcome at the meeting and if the questions are asked, we have to deal with it." Londt confirmed that he would be at the meeting and that the planned meeting will proceed.
Click here for previous articles:
- Community participation on public drinking
- Public voice to determine public drinking
- Council debates public drinking
- Little public interest in important meeting
- Knysna revolts against drinking proposals
- 24 hour public drinking over Festive season?
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, GEORGE HERALD - JOURNALIST
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