GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse, GOOD Drakestein Municipality Councillor:
The GOOD Party in Drakenstein is shocked, but not surprised, that Lady Grey Street; the economic centre of Paarl, has experienced its third armed robbery in less than one week. This comes after community members, businesses, the GOOD Party and many others have raised alarm bells and shared their concerns, over time, for the growing dilapidation of this important economic node.
GOOD regularly voiced its concerns on the Public Safety Portfolio Committee and in Council regarding the deterioration of Lady Grey and the growing public concern around the safety of shoppers in this area.
GOOD has noted that many businesses that’s been part of the permanent make-up of Lady Grey evacuated their trading spaces, opting to do business elsewhere around Paarl where new shopping centres are constructed. This is the biggest indication that business owners lost faith in the DA-led administration to ensure that they can operate in an environment where their safety and security is considered a priority to the municipality. In return, Lady Grey currently sits with many empty storefronts that do not bode well for the municipality’s drive to attract investment, ensure the creation of jobs and uplift its majority poor residents.
In March this year GOOD submitted a motion that urged Drakenstein to consider that council establishes a Central Business District Revitalisation Programme aimed at stimulating private investment and improving the visual and economic performance of Drakenstein’s Central Business Districts.
The programme sought to provide targeted municipal support to property owners through small capital grants, municipal tariff and rates rebates, and co-funding mechanisms to incentivise outer visual upgrades, building maintenance, and the active continued use of commercial properties within our respective CBD’s.
As part of this programme, the GOOD Party called for the municipal Council to support a policy proposal for the creation of a Central Improvement District (CID) model in key CBD areas in Paarl and Wellington that will enable structured public-private partnerships to enhance safety, security, and urban management. This included coordinated private security, street cleaning, waste management, and public space maintenance.
This motion did not even get the opportunity to be considered, as the bureaucracy within the political administration often trumps and silences effective, forward-thinking proposals from opposition parties.
GOOD will in turn resubmit this motion as a matter of urgency to ensure that Drakenstein considers creative ways to ensure that its economic centres are safe and that shoppers can participate economically without fearing for their lives. Also, that businesses trade without fear of losing their income to rogue, criminal elements.
Poverty and unemployment is no excuse for criminality, as much as policing plays an important role in deterring crime, Drakenstein cannot be left wanting when they have a fully functional and capable law enforcement department that is by means, in terms of resources and tactical skills, to address this problem that is rearing its ugly head in our economic centres.
GOOD Manifesto on Vision for the Future: Envisioning a South Africa where all citizens can thrive.
Wildcat Talent
El Salvador: You have two cows. They are less likely to get cut open than you.
Low Menace
Where do I go to post a FREE Event listing?