OPEN LETTER TO COUNCILLOR KUHL

Dear Cllr. Kuhl

Thank you for your email of 6 September chasing up a reply to our queries about the dredging of Zandvlei. I note that Mr Parker has said he will reply to our questions "through ZPAAC by the end of next week". But he also states that "My team and I have taken the decision of not responding on a one to one basis, as we are receiving too many requests from individuals; not only in the Sand River catchment, but in other catchment areas as well." He further requests that in future we work through the Zandvlei Protected Areas Advisory Committee.

There is, however, a problem. On consulting the ZPAAC website I note that the last ratified minutes date back to 20 March 2019, with a further set of minutes for 5 June 2019 "pending ratification". I am aware that a new committee may have been constituted, but the website is out of date and many of the members listed may no longer sit on the committee. In fact, I know that some of them have retired from public life. So who is the Chair? Who is the Secretary? Who are the committee members one should contact? How does one access the minutes of meetings if they are not uploaded to the website?

This underlines another problem. Why are we being asked to deal with the council through a seemingly dormant advisory committee which has no paid officials to keep its website information up to date, and which has no power to act on our queries or concerns? Surely it is the paid officials of the council and the elected representatives such as yourself who should answer our questions? 

It seems like an attempt to put yet another layer between the public and the council, and a long way from the open government we have been promised.

Regards

Charles Whaley

 for the SAVE THE ZANDVLEI PETITIONERS