THERE are often complaints about the declining activities of Drakenstein Municipality, the lack of enforcement of bylaws and resulting lawlessness - and rightly so, judging by the original founding notice in the Government Gazette of the Cape published on Friday 9 October, 1840.
In this proclamation by the governor of the Cape, Sir George Napier, the regulations of the “Municipality of the Paarl” adopted in August of that year by the seven councillors (known as Commissioners), make interesting reading (see the book Paarl Valley 1687-1987).
For example:
* It shall be the duty of the Commissioners to cause the public fountains, water-courses and dams to be kept clean, and in a proper state of repair.
* The Commissioners shall cause all public streets, roads and places within the aforesaid limitations as may be necessary, to be kept at all times in good and sufficient repair.
* No one shall be allowed to throw or place any filth, ground or rubbish in any street or public place without the consent of the Commissioners.
* All private throughfares, lanes, back yards and roads shall be cleaned by the owners or occupiers thereof, so that no public nuisance may arise, whether by foul smells or otherwise.
* No one shall be allowed to ride or drive negligently, carelessly or furiously through the streets or along any public road in such manner as to cause injury or damage to the person or property of any individual.
* No bullock wagons shall be allowed to be driven through the streets of the Municipality without a leader.
* Any person carrying or rolling any casks or wheels in the streets, shall be obliged, on the approach of any vehicle or person or persons on horseback, to stop immediately and move aside out of the street as quickly as possible.
* No person building, or in any other way engaged in trade, shall be allowed to occupy more than one-third of the street with his building materials, casks, goods or otherwise.
* No person shall be allowed to place or lay any straw, reed, or other such combustible material in the streets, or allow the same to remain there during the night
Clearly our Municipality is guilty of dereliction of duty, especially as regards maintenance of infrastructure and enforcement of by-laws - the very reason why it was originally founded nearly 170 years ago to ensure public order and safety in the urban area.
Unfortunately, nowadays too much money is being spent on political affairs instead of human affairs.
Observer
