Update

GEORGE NEWS - While the court case between a tavern in Conville, Red Lion Lounge, and George Municipality is still ongoing, the issue sparked interest from the Good Party in George that has opened a criminal case against DA Ward Councillor Brendon Adams.

Good's regional spokesperson, Donovan Saptoe, released a statement yesterday morning, 22 February, accusing Adams of orchestrating an alleged fraudulent petition aimed at closing down Rosina's Tavern, now known as Red Lion Lounge.

The tavern is still on the name of the previous owner, Rosina Lombaard, a member of the Good Party and ward candidate during the previous local government election. 

It was called Rosina's Tavern for years, and she sold to the new owners, the sisters Lauren and Kelly-Kay Prince, last year.

The court case will be heard again in October, and is based on the fact that the tavern has not been rezoned to operate as such. According to the tavern's legal advisor, Clayton Samson of Jansen & Samson Attorneys, the requirement for rezoning only came in years after receipt of a legal liquor licence from the Western Cape Liquor Authority.

"It was not necessary back then when the liquor licence was issued, to be zoned as a business," said Samson.

Case against Clr

Saptoe said the Good Party opened a case of fraud and misrepresentation against Adams on Sunday. This has not yet been confirmed by the police.

Good is accusing Adams of starting the petition against the tavern, using different canvassers to source signatures from within the community. 

Donovan Saptoe

"This petition eventually became part of a court case against the business in an attempt to close it down. This was accompanied by a widespread social media campaign to spread allegations that the tavern is illegal and responsible for various problems in the area," reads the statement. 

"Following further investigation, Good confirmed that many of the signatures were not valid. It was revealed that some of these were plagiarised or even from underage children who did not have permission to sign.

"Furthermore, it seems a false copy of the petition was finally submitted to the municipality and used to initiate the legal action against the tavern. This has run up huge legal expenses for the municipality - all based on a fraudulent document. Apart from the criminal case, Good is also submitting a formal complaint against this councillor to the speaker for a full investigation into their conduct."

George Speaker Sean Snyman confirmed that he received a letter from the Good Party on the matter early yesterday afternoon. He said it will receive attention. The municipality earlier said they will not comment on the court case since it is sub judice.

In his defence

Adams declined to comment on the matter when asked for his response (read his statement released early on Thursday 23 February below), but ward committee member Raphael Goeieman said the petition was driven by the community. 

"The main reason for the petition was a murder that took place in the neighbourhood. The petition, Maak jou buurt veilig, was about the tavern. We had a block meeting with the tavern owner, Rosina Lombaard, where I spoke openly about the matter and said we wanted to have the tavern closed," said Goeieman.

"I live in Conville myself, I helped with the petition list. We have a community WhatsApp group where we have asked the councillor to help us set up a petition. The community itself drove the petition.

"I personally typed the petition sheets and made prints."

It's all good! DA Ward Councillor for Conville, Brendon Adams, in his office taking a coffee break with a mug featuring a photo of the late Good Clr, Mercia Draghoender.

Response from Cnll Adams

In June 2022, i was approached on one of our wards' complaints whattsapp groups after a murder took place in the vicinity of Red Lion Lounge the old Rosinas Tavern.

My response to the members of the community as their Ward Councillor was to start a petition which they did and handed to me to give to the George Municipality as their leader i was in no way part of the verification nor ground work to complete the petition this was done by the members of the community at large.

The allegations leveled against me are gross defamatory remarks against me as a person,  and as a  counselor.

I have instructed my legal team to take legal action against the author Donovan Saptoe in his personal capacity and also against the Good party as this is nothing else as a political smear campaign.

I have no further comment on the matter my Political Heads or Lawyer can be contacted for any further comments.

Stamhoof Brendon Torob Adams
Ward 17 Councillor

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