Chris April verhuis na die Kaap
GEORGE - Een van George se geliefde en bekendste inwoners ds. Chris April, het vandeesweek gegroet om in Kaapstad te gaan woon.
Die 83-jarige April het in 1970 in George aangekom en was net vir tussenposes weg toe hy by die politiek betrokke geraak het. Hy was voorheen 'n leraar van die destydse NG Sendingkerk wat later die VGK geword het April het diep spore in George getrap. In die verlede was hy onder meer 'n lid van die Arbeidersparty en ook 'n minister in die destydse Raad van Verteenwoordigers in die driekamerparlement.
Hy was ook een van die parlementslede wat in Januarie 1987 in Port Elizabeth in die see gaan swem het as deel van 'n protesaksie teen apartheid.
Sedert 1 Mei 2019 was hy 'n inwoner van Huis JJ Watson. Hy gaan nou in Kaapstad in 'n tehuis vir bejaardes woon wat baie naby aan van sy familie is.
April het Maandag aan George Herald gesê hy is baie lief vir George en hy gaan die plek mis.
Dr. Okkie Stander, bestuurder van Huis JJ Watson, het gesê April se verhuising laat 'n groot leemte. Hy het ander inwoners met groot deernis en empatie behandel.
Tot onlangs nog het hy die leiding geneem met die samesang Donderdagoggende. Dit was vir hom een van die hoogtepunte van elke week.
Stander het April beskryf as professioneel, vriendelik en iemand wat net altyd mense wou help.
Henry Muller, 'n vriend van April, het gesê hy is by uitstek 'n gemeenskapmens. Hy het hard gewerk en was 'n aanwins vir George.
Bernadette (Bernie) Scholtz het gesê April is vriendelik en gaaf. Hy was 'n familievriend van haar ma, Babs van Rooyen, gewees. Volgens haar het hy baie vir die gemeenskap gedoen.
GEORGE - George Municipality has a list of "vagrant hotspots" in its municipal area and anti-land invasion officials regularly visit these locations to address challenges.
This is the gist of the municipality's reply in response to residents' worry and frustration about the problems associated with the congregation of homeless people in public places.
George Herald reported last week on the problems that residents of Greeff and Annandale flats in Morris Street experience with vagrants who are squatting along the length of the cul-de-sac, right next to the George Police Station. A resident complained that vagrants are scavenging weekly through the garbage, leaving a mess, and using the electricity box and lawn in front of the flats as a toilet.
On the other side of town, the owner of a scrap yard is very concerned about the two small squatter houses that sprouted on municipal grounds at the back of his property in Brick Street, George Industria.
In a reply to the paper's enquiry, municipal communications officer Athane Scholtz said their division for anti-land invasion is well aware of the individuals in Brick Street and do visit the area. "Regular action is being taken to manage the situation," she said. She noted, however, that "the legislated right to free movement of persons applies and cannot be limited by law enforcement (except in legislated situations/disaster as per Covid lockdown last year)."
Should people litter or illegally dump waste while rummaging in refuse bags, the incidents can be reported to the municipality's Law Enforcement section on 044 801 6350. Cellphone photos will help such investigations. Illegal occupancy can be reported on 044 801 6310. Suspected criminal activity must be reported to the police.