KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality Ward 5 Councillor Hilton Stroebel has called on the Knysna residents to stop vandalising municipal buildings. The plea came after Stroebel visited a former ward councillor's office and Youth Centre building in Rheenendal.

According to Stroebel the building was later used by the neighbourhood watch and the community works programme. 

"The property has since been vacant and underutilised for some time, which exposed it to vandalism. The purpose of my visit was to ascertain the structural damage to the building and what is needed to make the building safe and usable again," he said.

He indicated that the municipality will compile a report on the state of the building. "We will make a workable plan of action to rehabilitate the building and ensure that it is transformed into a space that will work for the community," he said.

This unused municipal building in Rheenendal has fallen prey to vandals.
Photo: Supplied

He called on Knysna residents to stop engaging in the unlawful behaviour of vandalising and damaging municipal buildings and any other infrastructure meant to serve the community needs. 

"We need to look after such infrastructure and report any such vandalism or destruction of property to the relevant law enforcement agencies. Such action negatively impacts and reflects badly on the Rheenendal community and the Greater Knysna in general."

He said while the municipality has a responsibility to maintain its infrastructure, "it is the responsibility of the residents to protect the infrastructure. We have reported this to the police and I trust that the law will take its course and bring those responsible to book".

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