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www.thevillagenews.co.za
23 September 2020
Access to Poole’s Bay a priority From P1 Stassen also said that they were especially taken aback by the refusal of the municipality to allow for the servitude, as the Western Cape Government released a draft report at the end of September 2018, following a year-long study and assessment of the issues surrounding access to the extensive Overberg coastline, from Rooiels to Cape Infanta. In this report, Poole’s Bay is highlighted as one of 10 sites in need of immediate resolution. The status of access to Poole’s Bay is recorded in the report as “nil”. According to her, the western Cape Government has also indicated that the Overberg Coastal Access Audit and Pilot Study found that this stretch of coastline was identified as an area of conflict, where the public experienced limited or restricted access to the coast because of property boundaries of coastal erven extending to the high-water mark.
According to Section 13 of the Integrated Coastal Management Act restricting access by the public to the coast is a criminal offence. Furthermore Section 18(9) of the act obliges municipalities to ensure that provision is made to secure public access to coastal public property in conditions of approval for rezoning, subdivision, or development of a land unit.
An artist’s impression of what the Cliff Path may look like at Poole’s Bay. The current proposal is for a path built from concrete with a rough aggregate to encourage staining and seaweed / mussel shell growth. There would be no materials that could be damaged in high storm seas.
Müller said while Section 13 does make restriction a criminal offence, in this instance there is access from the eastern side. “The properties along this bit of coast are private property and the municipality has no mandate to implement a servitude. The rights of the property owners are enshrined in the constitution and we cannot act against that,” he said. Stassen said they will be meeting with municipal officials to try and find a solution to this problem and, should the need arise, court action might be instituted to have the Cliff Path connected.
The do’s and don’ts of Level 1 "We have not overcome it, we have improved," were the words of warning from Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as she announced the regulations for the Level 1 lockdown stage that came into effect on Monday 21 September. Dlamini Zuma said while the new infection numbers had decreased over the past few weeks, it was important that citizens were more vigilant than ever to avoid contracting the Coronavirus. The new regulations are as follows: • Residents must be confined to their place of residence/home from 00:01 until 04:00 daily, except when attending to a security or medical emergency.
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Everyone must wear a face mask in public places, and no one will be allowed into public premises, or to use public transport without a mask. Funerals can accommodate 100
attendees or fewer, provided that not more than 50% of the venue's capacity is used, and social distancing measures are followed.
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Gatherings at faith-based institutions, social events, political events, conferences and traditional council meetings are limited to 250 persons or fewer in case of an indoor gathering and 500 persons or fewer in case of an outdoor gathering. Recreational gatherings including those at cinemas, theatres, concerts and live performances are allowed, but limited to 250 people for indoor and 500 people for outdoor gatherings. Gatherings at casinos, gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools are limited to no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue, with persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from one another. Gatherings at sports grounds and fields, as well as beaches and public parks are allowed, subject to
or demolition. During the National State of Disaster, the following are presumed to be unfair practice: The termination of services in circumstances where the landlord has failed to provide reasonable notice and an opportunity to make representations; the imposition of any penalty for the late payment of rental where the default is caused by the disaster, whether or not the penalty takes the form of an administrative charge or any other form, other than interest.
regulations.
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Bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments must limit guests to no more than 50% of the venue's capacity.
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Hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guest houses may not make available more than 50% of the capacity of the venue, with patrons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from one another.
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Sporting activities, including both professional and non-professional matches by recognised sporting bodies, are allowed. However, no spectators are permitted at the venue of the sports activity and no international sporting events are allowed. People may not be evicted from their land or home or have their place of residence demolished for the duration of the National State of Disaster, unless a court has granted an order authorising the eviction
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The 18 land borders which were partially operational will be fully operational, and the 35 land borders currently closed will remain closed. Travel from the African continent and from countries outside the African continent with a low rate of Covid-19 infection and transmission will resume, but the traveller must provide a valid negative test certificate obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel. In the event of the traveller's failure to submit such a certificate, the
traveller will be required to go into quarantine at his or her own cost. International travel from countries listed as having a high Covid-19 infection and transmission rate, will remain prohibited, except for business travel, which may be allowed with the approval of the Minister of Home Affairs.
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Bus and taxi services may not carry more than 70% of their licensed capacity for long-distance (>200km) travel; and may carry 100% of the licensed capacity for any trip not regarded as long-distance travel. Face masks must always be worn.
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The sale of liquor is allowed by a licensed vendor for off-site consumption from 09:00 to 17:00, from Mondays to Fridays, excluding weekends and public holidays. On-site consumption is allowed at licensed premises, subject to strict adherence to the curfew.
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Specific exclusions/prohibitions include night vigils, night clubs and initiation practices.
