KNYSNA NEWS - Residents of the Rheenendal community, just outside Knysna on the way to Sedgefield, caused unrest this week because they say they are sick of empty promises.
The protests started on Monday evening, January 23 as frustrated and angry residents placed burning barricades in the streets leading to the community to show their dissatisfaction with the Knysna municipality, specifically with Ward 5 councillor and mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, and demanding answers as to when they will be receiving housing.
Following these protest actions, two suspects were arrested, according to police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies. "Both suspects, aged 18, are still in custody and will appear in the Knysna Magistrate's Court later this week on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property," he said.
The protest action started late Monday evening, January 23, Spies said, when a group of people gathered at the entrance to Rheenendal. "They blocked roads with burning objects and bricks, and damaged municipal property. The police used stun grenades to disperse the groups," Spies said.
A number of residents the Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) spoke to, said the police fired at the crowd using rubber bullets.
Jolene Barends said she was not even part of the protest, and that she was on her way to the Rheenendal Clinic when she was hit in the back. "I was right in front of the clinic at that point – what if children or sick people inside the clinic got hurt?" she asked.
Annalie Barends, who was also shot in the back, said there was no reason for the police to use rubber bullets, and that no warning was given before they opened fire. "When the shots rang out, everyone started running. We were peaceful up until that point," she said.
"We were just standing there, watching everything like a lot of other people, when I got hit. I had my three-year-old in my arms," said Lucille Spies, who got shot in the back of her lower leg.
The police responded to the protest action at about 21:30 on Monday, and Spies said. "I can confirm that the police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the group. No complaints were received regarding injuries sustained as a result of police action during the illegal protest action.
"These actions are unlawful and the police will act within the parameters of the law to stabilise the situation."
"There are residents in Rheenendal who have been waiting more than 17 years for housing," explained the visibly highly frustrated Austin Oscar. "Eleanore said last year during a meeting that once a dam was built to supply water to Rheenendal, they would start with building houses. Now the dam is built, but where are the houses?" he asked.
"She could hire a car before last year's elections to come and canvas in the community, but since then we haven't seen her again," he said as other residents surrounding him agreed in a chorus, roaring, "Where is she?"
All the community wants, explained another resident, Samantha Quine, is for Bouw-Spies to listen to their needs. "She keeps making promises but doesn't follow through."
They also asked why it is that there is always money in the municipality's budget for everything else in Rheenendal, but never for housing.
Anria Bosman said the house she shares with her sickly mother is falling apart. "My mother is already in her 60s – what must we do?" Bosman said her mother has been waiting for a house for 27 years. "What do they want us to do? Apply for a house when we're still young and only receive it when we're in our 40s?"
The Knysna municipality was asked to comment and here follows a verbatim response by spokesperson Fran Kirsten to our enquiries:
KPH: Residents say that the mayor came to them last year, before the election, in a rented vehicle, and made plenty of promises about building them houses after the dam was completed. Some have been waiting more than 17 years for a house, and are now even more upset after promises were made to them, with nothing happening.
Kirsten: "Residents say that the mayor came to them last year, before the election, in a rented vehicle, and allegedly made plenty of promises about building them houses after the dam was completed. Some have allegedly been waiting more than 17 years for a house, and are now even more upset after alleged promises were made to them, with allegedly nothing happening."
KPH: They (residents) want to know why the mayor won't go to Rheenendal – apparently she hasn't been there since last year's elections."
Kirsten: "These are blatant lies. Since her re-election the Ward Cllr has visited Rheenendal on several occasions. The first meeting took place on 12 September where she addressed the community in the Community Hall. Since that meeting she has visited Ward 5's Rheenendal as Councillor 10 times (these do not include the times she went to address schools, the youth etc). We have attendance registers for each occasion."
KPH: Residents want to know why there is always money in the budget for everything else in Rheenendal, except houses.
Kirsten: "As you know, housing is not a municipal matter, but a matter decided by National and Provincial Government."
KPH: The residents want to know when the promises made to them will be fulfilled.
Kirsten: "The following progress report on housing within Rheenendal shows clearly that the allegations are unfounded:
- Application was submitted to Provincial Government on 29/08/12.
- Application was not approved due to lack of sufficient infrastructure.
- Water was upgraded in 2016.
- Application was resubmitted on 11/7/2016.
- Planning approval was granted by Province on 8/11/16.
- Planning approval fees will be available from 01/04/2017 and detailed studies and planning will commence.
- Letter requesting for expedition of project was sent to Province on 24/01/17."
KPH: The residents want to know why the mayor won't answer their queries or see them when they go to the municipality.
Kirsten: "Your newspaper has addressed these allegations previously and know that the mayor has an open-door policy, but must run her office by appointment. All those that have visited, or called her office with a request for a meeting have been accommodated."
KPH: What is the mayor's response to these allegations?
Kirsten: "As you can see from my response to the allegations above that these are just that, allegations and are unfounded."
KPH: What is the plan to stop protests like these from happening by communicating with the community?
Kirsten: "Prior to the unrest, a community meeting had been called for tomorrow (Wednesday, January 25). Due to the nature of the protests we have moved this meeting forward by a day and this will take place this evening, Tuesday, January 24."
Kirsten: "This is a question that you should be asking the Knysna Police."
Kirsten then went on to send a follow-up email referring the KPH to a story that appeared in the paper in September 2016, "to see for yourself that the allegations are truly unfounded".
The article referred to Bouw-Spies and her involvement in Eskom electrifying the homes of families in Lapland, Rheenendal.
Read the full article here: http://www.knysnaplettherald.com/news/News/General/172170/Lapland-steps-out-of-the-dark.
A meeting was held at Rheenendal community hall on Tuesday evening, January 24, between the mayor and the community.
When asked about the outcome of the meeting, Kirsten responded, "All went well. A housing committee was established to ensure that misinformation and untruths no longer cause misrepresentation."
Residents of the Rheenendal community placed burning barricades in the roads on Tuesday, January 24, as part of a protest action. Photo: Stefan Goosen
ARTICLE: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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