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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEOS - George community members and residents of the Victoria Bay Residents Association will meet next Tuesday, 4 August, to discuss the way forward regarding developments at the popular coastal resort.
This follows after several members of the community turned up at Victoria Bay to hold a protest meeting this morning.
Among them were several community leaders and members of political parties such as the PBI, the ANC and the EFF.
Over the last few weeks Victoria Bay has become a bone of contention after rumours went out that some residents were planning a form of access control, such as a boom gate. Rumours intensified after construction work started at the main entrance. People were asking who had authorised the work and whether a public participation process had been followed.
At today's meeting, members of the community asked for answers and demanded that construction at the entrance be stopped. It became clear that no one really knew which authority has jurisdiction over the bay: George Municipality, Garden Route District Municipality or both.
Virgill Gericke, who serves on both municipal councils and has already asked for an investigation into the matter, was one of the speakers that addressed the crowd. He said no residents’ association has the right to “decide about a beach”, as the beach belongs to all the people. The process must be driven by local authorities, not a private institution.
They don’t want the citizens of George to be divided on an issue that is supposed to unify them: the beach.
Some of the community members said a boom gate reminds them of the old days of apartheid.
Watch videos below:
Virgill Gericke addressing the protest meeting.
Francois Roets, talking on behalf of the residents’ association, said they wanted everybody to enjoy the beach and that there will not be access control.
It was decided that a follow-up meeting would take place next Tuesday to talk about the way forward. In the meantime, the residents’ association will meet with their members to inform them about recent developments. It was agreed that construction at the main gate will be stopped temporarily.
Neil Schalkwyk, chairperson of the residents’ association, said the proposed electronic gate will not be for pedestrians, only for cars.
Francois Roets addressing the meeting on behalf of the Victoria Bay Residents Association.
Members of the community and the Victoria Bay Residents Association shortly after the protest meeting. They have agreed to have a formal meeting on Tuesday to discuss the way forward. Photos: Eugene Gunning
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