The successful clearing and repair efforts after the recent floods in Meiringspoort, Middelplaas and the De Rust area prove that decisive action and collaboration between the Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape government are indeed possible.
The same swift response and will are, however, lacking when it comes to Grobbelaars River in Oudtshoorn.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has made several formal requests for the river to be urgently cleared to prevent future flooding and damage to property and infrastructure. The Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, and the Garden Route District Municipality endorse this request.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality is, however, dragging its feet in concluding negotiations and administrative processes to obtain approvals for heavy earthmoving machinery.
The same machinery has already been successfully employed in Meiringspoort and Middelplaas. Every delay increases the risk of serious damage with the next heavy rains.
Preventive clearing efforts are cheaper than repairs after a disaster.
The Freedom Front Plus implores the Oudtshoorn Municipality to finalise the outstanding approvals without any more delays, so the clearing of Grobbelaars River can commence at once.
The community regards this as a matter of urgency and is even prepared to financially contribute to the first phase of the project.
