GEORGE NUUS - 'n Formele ondersoek na onlangse gebeure by Victoriabaai is deur 'n stadsraadslid van die George-stadsraad en die Garden Route-distriksmunisipaliteit, Virgill Gericke, aangevra.
Sy versoek is vervat in briewe wat hy Maandag aan beide die munisipaliteite gestuur het. Dit het ook Maandag ter sprake gekom tydens 'n stadsraadsvergadering van die distriksmunisipaliteit.
Die aangevraagde ondersoeke hou onder meer verband met grondverskuiwingswerk wat onlangs by die ingang van Victoriabaai plaasgevind het. George Herald het reeds op 16 Julie daaroor berig.
Neil Schalkwyk, voorsitter van die inwonersvereniging, het vroeër aangevoer amptenare van beide die Garden Route-distriksmunisipaliteit en George-munisipaliteit is bewus van wat daar gebeur.
Michelle Pienaar berig dat tydens Maandag se vergadering van die distriksmunisipaliteit wou Gericke by Memory Booysen, die burgemeester, weet wat aan die gang is. Hy het onder meer gevra dat die distriksmunisipaliteit dringend duidelikheid gee oor die stukke grond wat onder sy jurisdiksie val. Booysen het geantwoord dat hy Gericke se versoek ontvang het en dat dit aandag kry.
Die George-munisipaliteit het intussen 'n verklaring aan George Herald gestuur en gesê dat geen toestemming verleen is vir enige werk wat op interne paaie by Victoriabaai gedoen word nie. Dit val nie onder sy jurisdiksie nie.
Luidens die verklaring kan dit bevestig word dat geen "formele besprekings" in die verband met die Victoria Bay Ratepayers Association en/of Garden Route-distrikmunisipaliteit plaasgevind het nie. (Sien George-munisipaliteit se verklaring in Engels onderaan die artikel).
Gericke het Dinsdag gesê hy gee beide munisipaliteite van Maandag (27 Julie) sewe dae tyd om te reageer.
Hy het benadruk dit gaan nie net oor die ingang nie. "Die ondersoek gaan veel dieper. Dit gaan ook oor bouplanne wat na bewering nie goedgekeur is nie en konstruksiewerk wat reeds begin het.
"Alle inwoners is onderworpe aan die oppergesag van die reg. Na my mening is wat hier gebeur het dieselfde as grondvergrype."
Volgens hom is daar nog talle onbeantwoorde vrae en in die stadium kan hy nie die ondersoek vooruit loop nie.
Die distriksmunisipaliteit het teen spertyd nog nie op navrae gereageer nie.
Schalkwyk het Woensdagoggend gesê hy staan by wat hy in die verlede gesê het. Hy het bygevoeg: "Ek verwelkom nog altyd almal op die strand. Dit is absurd om te praat van die privatisering van die strand."
Hy het benadruk geen alkohol sal op die strand toegelaat word nie.
*A public representative that is a member of both the George city council and the Garden Route district municipality, Virgill Gericke has formally written letters in which he asks that recent events at Victoria Bay be investigated. In the letters he writes amongst others that he has been informed and learnt in the media about developments at the beachfront. The said developments include earthmoving and the reconstruction of the lawn. Gericke also mentioned it at Monday's council meeting of the Garden district municipality. Memory Booysen, the mayor answered: "We received the email and the relevant response to the individuals will follow up on that, and we will take it from there."
George Municipality reaction:
The Victoria Bay Caravan Park, the kiosk and backpackers are situated on the Remainder of Farm 195 Kraaibosch, George Rd. The property is utilised as a resort and consists of a portion of the coastline at Victoria Bay and stretches to the Kaaimans River. The extent of the land is 73.2553 ha and the property is registered in the name of the Regional Services Council – Suid Kaap.
The process to transfer the Victoria Bay beach area from the Eden District Municipality (EDM) to George Municipality dates back to 2003. A previous resolution taken by Eden District Municipality on 25 August 2003 regarding the transfer of the Victoria Bay beach area was never concluded. The matter was again taken up by EDM (now GRDM) and at a Council meeting held on 25 May 2015 by the, then, Eden District Municipality it was, inter alia, resolved as follows:
That Council transfer the Remainder of 195 Kraaibosch, commonly known as Victoria Bay Resort & Caravan Park, to George Municipality, subject to receiving a Council Resolution of acceptance from George Municipality within 60 days of written notification and having due regard of the legal requirements of Section 14 of the MFMA and Regulation 17 of the Municipal Asset Transfer regulations.
In order to comply the above resolution taken by the, then, Eden District Municipal Council, the George Municipal Council resolved at an Ordinary Council meeting held on 29 July 2015, inter alia as follow:
“RESOLVED
a. that Council accepts the resolution taken by the Eden District Municipality on 25 May 2015;
b. that the Municipality undertake and document a due diligence review on the assets and any liabilities that are to be transferred in terms of Regulation 32 of the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations (MATR);
The resolution was communicated to the GRDM and GM commenced with a due diligence review on the assets and liabilities that are to be transferred in terms of Regulation 32 of the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations (MATR).
The due diligence review was submitted to the GM Council and the following decision was taken at a Special Council Meeting held on 27 June 2016.
“RESOLVED
a. that the due diligence review executed in terms of Regulation 32 of the MATR be noted;
b. that the transfer of the Remainder of Farm 195 Kraaibosch, George Rd (Victoria Bay Caravan Park and Resort) and all the assets from Eden District Municipality to George Municipality, be approved;
c. that no concessions will be applicable for councillors and officials after the handover/transfer date of the Victoria Bay Caravan Park and Resort;
d. that the George Municipality continue with the current booking system for a period of one (1) year as to investigate and establish organisational requirements and that the supply chain process has to be followed subsequently;
e. that a combined verification process be undertaken to ensure both parties are in agreement with the actual assets which are to be transferred to George Municipality.
A transfer agreement was drawn and sent to the GRDM together with a letter notifying them of the aforementioned resolution.
The matter was followed up and in response the GRDM sent a letter, in which they informed the GM that property similar in size and value, preferably property that is suitable for residential development, be provided to them in exchange for the property on which the Caravan Park and Resort are located on.
The request from the GRDM was rejected by the GM Council at a meeting held on 28 May 2018.
In view of the aforementioned it is confirmed that the property was not transferred to GM and that the property is still registered in the name of the Regional Services Council – Suid Kaap.
We hope that the aforementioned information clarifies all the issues regarding the ownership of the land on which the activities are taking place on.
The George Municipality confirms that no authorizations were granted by it in respect of any works currently performed on the internal roads as this section does not fall within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, it can be confirmed that no formal discussions have been undertaken in this regard with the Victoria Bay Ratepayers Association and/or Garden Route District Municipality.
Verwante artikel: Ondersoek gebeure by Vicbaai, eis Raadslid
'Ons bring jou die nuutste George, Tuinroete nuus'
