Officials of the Rapid Response Unit from the Provincial Eastern Cape Local Government were mostly non committal when they were informed about the breakdown of infrastructure locally and problems raised by the St Francis Bay Residents’ Association (SFBRA) that chaired the meeting in St Francis Bay on 25 September 2012.
The officials thanked the SFBRA for showing them around and pointing out all the grievances raised, which they itemised. But apart from being astounded at the water problems facing St Francis Bay owing to the dams in the Santareme dune fields, one of which flooded this suburb earlier this month, badly damaging two houses, there was no official comment whatsoever. There was however, some concern expressed during their fact finding mission, but no official statement was issued.
The delegates also met with Kouga Council representatives. But at the time of going the press there was no official communique as to how this meeting went.
The meeting with provincial officials was attended by senior management of the SFBRA plus by a senior official from the Department of Water Affairs. The SFBRA presented various documents and photographic evidence of the breakdown in the infrastructure of SFB.
The meeting covered:
- lack of storm water management;
- the deterioration of roads;
- the access bridge over the sand river and the silting up of the Kromme River;
- the potential disaster should the large dam of water behind Santareme burst;
- the issue of the spit and the road going forward, presented by Bennie Morsink;
- the plight of the residents of Sea Vista, presented by Petrus Leen, a senior member of that community.
Other issues discussed were:
- the flawed budget
- the effect to Tourism in St Francis as well as foreign investment
- the effect on business and employment due to the poor state of our infrastructure
After the meeting the delegates were given a tour of St Francis to show the problems. The delegation then met with Kouga Council to discuss these issues.
The delegation requested a follow up meeting in October between themselves, the SFBRA, officials from Kouga Council and other IAPs.
(Edited)
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