A STATEMENT FROM SEDGEFIELD RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Over two months ago, on 3 October 2022, the SRRA sent a formal letter to Knysna Municipality detailing key concerns as well as a list of related By-Laws that are being breached with little, or in most cases, no action being taken by the Municipality.
The continued lack of action sets a tone of acceptance which leads to the devaluing of properties in Sedgefield. To date, the SRRA still awaits a formal response to its letter, which tabled reasonable questions as to the responsibilities for ensuring conformance to the related By-Laws and by when the Municipality plans to deal with all the related important development planning aspects.
Many Sedgefield and Smutsville residents have waited patiently for Knysna Municipality to share updated details of the provision of housing projects and the required services. There have been unexplained delays with no real progress being achieved in the provision of housing where it is most needed in the Sedgefield community. Apparently, there are four ‘approved in principle’ housing projects which could accommodate approximately 300 Sedgefield/Smutsville families. The actual number is dependent on eventual site layout plans. Knysna Municipality has not yet brought these projects to fruition.
After receiving many queries from its members and several other interested parties, the SR&RA investigated why the housing projects appear to be stuck in a permanent hiatus.
Several cycles of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) have clearly listed housing as a top and urgent priority; however, nothing tangible has materialised other than various formal documentation of these needs for the community.
These delays have had consequences, including the large growth in informal settlers in the Sedgefield sensitive dune areas. These areas are not appropriately zoned or serviced. Further serious concerns caused by the land occupation are due to the topology, which is not suitable for the economic development of subsidised housing.
Examples of some of these By-Laws and queries are provided below.
• Municipal Planning Tribunal resolution 29 September 2020 where it was resolved that an amended General Plan (showing the rezoned land, erven 3861, 3865, 3866, 3917, 3918(A), for proposed mixed housing development) to be prepared by a Land Surveyor shall be submitted for approval to the office of the Surveyor General.
Query: Has the General Plan been amended? If so, was this sent to the Surveyor General and if formally approved, by what date was this done?
• Provision of formal Site Development Plans.
Query: If not done, who is responsible for this and by when will this work be completed?
• Provision of a Landscaping Plan on the land zoned for open space purposes and to the effect of creating a buffer shall be submitted to the satisfaction of the Director: Community Services.
Query: Who is responsible for this Landscaping Plan, and has it been completed for discussion with and approval of the Director: Community Services? If so, when was this done?
• Development shall not be undertaken before the Environmental Impact Assessment authorisation has been obtained.
Query: Who is responsible for obtaining this EIA authorisation, and by what date was this achieved?
• High-Density flat type dwellings. Although the SR&RA and other interested and affected public have made known that it doesn’t agree that the construction of low-cost higher-density flats will be suitable anywhere in Sedgefield,
Query: Has consideration been given to this type of development and discussed in public forums? What was the outcome of such consideration?
Public Safety: Veld fire prevention through firebreaks. For any informal settlement area, minimum safety requirements must comply. A safety distance of three metres between informal structures shall be maintained, and any settlement must be divided into blocks of not more than 20 structures, with a minimum distance of six metres between blocks. Additionally, a safety height of four metres from normal ground level free from any overhead obstructions shall be maintained.
Query: Who is responsible for ensuring and enforcing that these compliances are adhered to and when last were the Sedgefield informal dune areas checked that these compliances are being maintained? What process will be followed with “excess” structures/dwellings if the mandatory minimum spacing and blocks of informal structures have not been properly implemented?
Guidelines and parameters for buildings within the urban conservation area and critical biodiversity areas. The development or external aesthetic alteration of land or buildings on a scenic ridge line or within a core, buffer or agricultural area of a critical biodiversity area where it will be visible from the N2 National road are to be substantially compliant, to the satisfaction of the Aesthetics and Heritage Committee.
Query: Has Knysna Municipality or Council ever considered any draft plans for the development or the external aesthetic alteration of land or buildings located on this scenic ridge line?
These queries are but a sample of many that reference By-Laws and which are itemised in detail in SR&RA’s letter to the Acting Municipal Manager sent over two months ago. Not having received any formal reply from the Acting Municipal Manager, the SRRA followed up with another letter dated 28 November 2022 requesting that the Association be advised when the various queries will be answered. It was indicated in the second letter that some delay might be attributable to the change of Municipal managers, with Mr R Butler replacing Mr J Jonkers, who resigned rather suddenly during November. This more recent letter also indicates that once a formal reply answering their questions has been received, SR&RA Executive Committee representatives are very willing to meet with the AMM and other senior Municipal management for any discussions that may be necessary. Failing a substantive follow-up by KM, the SRRA will contact Province to see if they can assist with the process deadlock.
This issue is not about finger-pointing or blame; it is a simple endeavour to provide solutions for our residents and ratepayers. Sedgefield deserves better!

…AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD IN 2023

Lance Kime, Kelvin Trautman, Tracey Campbell and John Collins will definitely be a team to be reckoned with in the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championships. Picture by Shirleen Olivier

Team Merrell Songlines have been crowned the Adventure Racing Africa Regional Champions and are more than ready to take on the best of the rest on home soil next year. This weekend saw the fabulous four – local sporting legend John Collins and teammates Kelvin Trautman (captain), Tracey Campbell and Lance Kime – cementing their entry into the 2023 AR World Championships when they won the Clocolan 120 km race, the final event in the Expedition Africa Regional Championship, in 12hours and 33minutes.

Part of their prize for winning the Africa Series is free entry for the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championships, to be held in the Kouga region of the Eastern Cape in October. The race, hosted by Expedition Africa, will be the 18th Adventure Racing World Championship and the first to be held on the African continent. The 700 km event will be the culmination of the 2023 Adventure Racing World Series, which unites in competition the world’s best endurance athletes at the premier expedition adventure races around the world.

Songlines’ road to the 2023 ARWS has been well-calculated and more than a little determined. They finished 8th in this year’s World Champs held in Paraguay, this after suggesting they were using it to ‘sus out the competition’. There is absolutely no doubt they will be a team to contend with in next year’s competition!

Watch this space …

The heated battle of wills continues between coalitions in Knysna Council regarding seven political appointments approved on 16 September by the ANC and its coalition partners. Whilst ANC Executive Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa stands by his statement that Council made this resolution in line with the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, the opposition is still calling it ‘cadre deployment’.

Indeed the DA/KIM coalition has stated unequivocally that these appointments were both unnecessary and illegal and that their parties are convinced due process was not followed.

On 11 October, the DA in Knysna took the matter further, sending a legal demand to the Acting Municipal Manager, Johannes Jonkers.

The 11-page, 49-point letter, sent from the offices of Cape Town legal firm Minde Schapiro & Smith, alleges that

1. The appointments did not meet general and competency requirements;

2. The Municipality did not advertise the vacant posts;

3. Applicants did not apply on the prescribed forms;

4. There was no selection committee;

5. The Municipality did not shortlist and interview applicants;

6. The Municipality did not consider references and conduct personal credential verification; and

7. The Municipality acted for an ulterior purpose.

It also mentions that in one case, well-known politician Elrick van Aswegen is now employed in the Executive Mayor’s office as a political advisor. “Council did not approve the creation of this post on 16 September 2022. Council approved a political advisor for the Deputy Executive Mayor. But Mr Aswegen (has) commenced employment as a political advisor in the Executive Mayor’s office. Mr van Aswegen was originally a member of the Congress of the People but then stood for the ANC in the last local government elections.

The legal brief concludes with a demand from the DA that the Acting Municipal Manager should “cease any steps in the appointments to the seven posts. The Acting Municipal Manager must not sign any employment contracts with the relevant persons, or otherwise facilitate their appointment.” and further, that he “takes steps to reverse the appointments, to the extent that the appointments have already been made, and the creation of the posts. These steps may include introducing a resolution to repeal the appointments and the creation of the posts. The steps could also include approaching the High Court for appropriate relief.”

In a press statement issued along with a copy of the legal letter, DA Constituency Head for Knysna Dion George demands that the Acting Municipal Manager “immediately rescind the illegal appointments of political cronies in the Knysna Municipality.” He alleges that the appointments will result in an unbudgeted cost of R3 million per annum, which the ratepayers of Greater Knysna will have to pay.

“If the Municipal Manager does not withdraw these illegal appointments, the matter will be going to court,” he said.

One of the much-loved events of the Sedgefield Slow Festival in years gone by was the ‘Anything That Floats’ competition, traditionally held on Fish Eagle Green, The Island. The great news is that despite there being no Slow Festival this year – ANYTHING THAT FLOATS is back and set to take place on 8 October.

For those not in the know, this event is all about… well… not sinking. Or at least sinking with dignity. It’s a sort of a boat race without boats.

Here’s how it works. On the day of the event (mark your waterproof diaries), each entered team (two or more people – the more, the merrier) has to bring materials to build their craft on site. These… er… crafts (that IS a very loose description) can be made of ANYTHING (that floats) except real boat parts, surfboards, paddle skis etc.

Once the craft is built/ assembled/tied together with string/sellotape/glue, it is presented by the team to a select panel of (non)experts who judge according to the originality of the design and the charisma of the team (a song or war cry is a good idea, but not compulsory). Then, after being launched onto the lagoon just off Fish Eagle Green (this is the point where there is more than the occasional sinking feeling), the craftily crafted crafts are put to the test against one another in an exciting series of heats (or colds – depending on the weather).

There will be different racing categories – but these are decided on the day – dependent on entries.

In their grim determination to sneak in and win this event oars down, The EDGE Community Newspaper will be the sponsor/manager/bribe facilitator of the Anything That Floats, whilst all the money raised will go to Masithandane.
If any business, club, family, group of friends, or group of enemies, wishes to bravely accept this challenge and enter a craft while fully realising that you will never EVER beat the SS EDGE…. (Just saying) then you should email Admiral Bomber Webb (editor@edge news.co.za).

The entry fee is R350 per team (all for charity). There will be prizes, and there’s a (wait for it) Floating Trophy up for grabs. If you would like to sponsor an entry for a Sedgefield Scouts team (who will happily fly your flag), this is also possible.

SANParks have generously allowed us to use the green, and NSRI Lifeguards will be on-site to rescue anyone who goes overboard.

 

There has been an increasing trend of syndicate crime ‘touring’ the Garden Route this year, but the good news is that our crime fighters have been combining resources to take them on – and this is paying serious dividends.

No less than six gangs of thieves connected with organised theft have been arrested in the last month. Typically these syndicates have a similar ‘modus operandi’. They travel in groups of four or five in one or two vehicles, stopping at shopping centres in various towns to hit as many retail outlets as possible. They work in teams and move on to the next target before their misdeeds are discovered.

The latest of these busts occurred on 3 August. Anti-crime organisations were on the alert after receiving reports that an organised group of shoplifters were making their way up the coast, having already hit Mossel Bay, Hartenbos, Oudtshoorn and George. That same day, Michael Simon, a member of Sedgefield’s Community Orientated Policing (COP), who also works for Allsound Security in Knysna, was informed by Stuart Daniell of Sedgefield Pharmacy that four shoppers had been seen attempting to shoplift at his business.“I had been warned by my twin brother that this group had been in his pharmacy in George the day before,” Stuart told us, “There, they were seen taking items from the shelves and hiding them in a computer box they were carrying. When the pharmacy staff approached them, they dropped the box and ran.”
He said that when the four arrived in the Sedgefield pharmacy the next day, they split into twos. “We could see a couple of them were putting items under their jerseys, but they must have realised we knew what they were up to because they suddenly dumped everything back on a shelf and left,” he explained.

Stuart quickly called his older brother, who runs Village Pharmacy at Knysna Mall, to warn him. This proved a good move because it wasn’t long before the same group walked into the Knysna pharmacy. But once again, they clearly felt all eyes on them and soon left. Meanwhile, Stuart had alerted Allsound, and it was quickly discovered that the group had moved on to a clothing store where they were busy helping themselves to stock.

When the alarm was raised, security managed to apprehend two of the perpetrators whilst the other two escaped in a vehicle. Fortunately, video footage of the parking area revealed details of the Toyota Corolla used for their getaway.

The make, colour and plate numbers were swiftly circulated, and a tactical member of Allsound reported that he had seen the vehicle leaving Knysna. It was heading back in the direction of Sedgefield.

Three Allsound vehicles were deployed to follow the Corolla from Knysna, and the SAPS Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) and Flying Squad were radioed.

As the perpetrators entered Sedgefield, they were pulled over by the Flying Squad with the assistance of Allsound and COP. The occupants were taken into custody and charged with being in possession of suspected stolen property.

Amongst the goods in their possession were a number of stock items, with a value of over R2500, that they had, in fact, managed to steal from Sedgefield Pharmacy.

Michael Simon of COP/Allsound said, “This successful operation once again highlights the great results of teamwork between various role-players as they combat crime and work together for a safer community for us all.”

The criminals appeared in court on Thursday, 11 August, and at least two of them were found to have outstanding warrants of arrest. At time of going to press no details of future court dates