A recent municipal notification announced that the upcoming Sandbaai ward meeting has been relocated to the Banquet Hall in Hermanus. This has drawn strong criticism and objection from Sandbaai Ratepayers, who claim that the public participation process is being undermined by this step. OVAC has supported their objection in an email to the municipal administration.
We would like to remind readers that the last ward meeting in Sandbaai led to OVAC assisting ratepayers in laying criminal charges of assault against the Sandbaai ward councillor and the deputy mayor, among others. These matters remain subject to due process, and no findings have been made public.
In light of this, concerns have been raised regarding governance arrangements pending the resolution of these matters.
Ward meetings should, in line with the principles of meaningful and accessible public participation, wherever possible, be held within the affected ward to ensure that residents are able to attend without unnecessary travel barriers.
No further details regarding the status of those matters have been publicly confirmed.
The municipality has not yet issued a response to OVAC’s latest objection.
Anton Kruger
OVAC
