Fighting for her rights

Madam – In 2009 The Newcastle Municipality made it compulsory to obtain a licence to run a tuck shop from your residential property.

You had to apply for special consent, send out registered letters to about 20 or more residents in your area, the Council supplied you with the names and addresses of the residents. One had to also advertise in the local newspaper in case there were any objections, all of which cost quite a tidy sum. I also had to forfeit the 25 per cent rebate which I got on my municipal account every month.

In Arbor Park there are only two legal tuck shops namely Krystle’s Tuck Shop and Tant San se winkel.

On Thursday morning a foreigner who had previously approached me to let him place a container in my yard, opened an illegal tuck shop in a yard just down the road from me.

I immediately reported this incident to a gentleman at the relevant department at the municipality and he told me he would investigate and that containers were also illegal and that he would come back to me. It is now nearly a week later and still no feed back.

If the people in charge are not willing to do anything about this situation and turn a blind eye, who else does one go to besides the media?

I’m damned if I’m going to take this lying down and be sure I’m going to fight for my rights as I pay my rates and taxes just like all the others.

PN Botha

Response from Mayor, Afzul Rehman:

I’m sure if the matter was reported, action will be taken. I have forwarded a copy of this letter to the Strategic Executive Director for her notice.