DEAR Editor,-
We, the people living in Margate extension 3 (around the Seaslopes public parking area), have, in the month of April 2014, already on two Sundays, namely the 6th and Easter Sunday, the 20th, been entertained by illegally-held ANC election rallies.
No permits were issued to hold these rallies and this was confirmed by Protection Services when phoned. The parking area was closed to the public by spanning ‘danger tape’ across it.
The sound generated by the speakers made it impossible to listen to your own television set and I recorded a video of this.
A donation of three bottles of alcohol was requested by the organisers of this event and refused, however, Coca Cola was donated for the children.
On Sunday, April 6th, it started at 9am with football, went on to become a Smirnoff promotion and ended as an election rally, lasting until approximately 3.30pm.
When the football started, a woman spoke to the organisers and asked who had given permission for the parking area to be used as a soccer field. The representative stated that a letter had been written by the SAPS and asked me if I would like to see this letter, but unfortunately it had been left in his office.
The ward councillor was informed and he stated that the gathering was illegal.
Therefore, the following questions should be asked: 1 When phoning Protection Services, they were not aware of any permit issued for this venue and did nothing further except for sending a car (registration NPS 79856) from Law Enforcement, with two officers who sat and watched. Should they not have closed down this event? 2 Traffic Police sent a van, which also stood by without acting on the fact that a public parking area had been partially closed off. Should they not have removed the danger tape? 3 SAPS sent a van that stopped for 30 seconds and then drove away. 4 Who does authorise a political rally within the Margate municipality?
CONCERNED RESIDENT
Margate
