Bolander 09 Feb 2011
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7 Woensdag 9 Februarie 2011 Bolander Gemeenskap R 4 9 9 - 0 0 E x (f o r a sin g le re si d e n tia l p r o p e r t y ) For Both Beetle and Electrical Inspections Tel: 021 851 7423 / 851 5420 OM/12/7601202 ... want the romance to last beyond Valentine’s Day? valentine’s find out how at... Reg No. 040-023-NPO 10 -17 Feb 2011 AT A VENUE NEAR YOU Contact 021 438 4077 (9am-4pm) or visit alphawcape.co.za for details. Norman McFarlane T he ejection of the media from a meeting at the Stel- lenbosch municipality last week Monday (“Media ousted from Stellenbosch municipality planning meeting”, Bolander, February 2) by a municipal offi- cial, Basil Davidson, culminated in Bolander emailing a series of questions to municipal manager David Daniels on Tuesday Janu- ary 25, seeking clarity on why the media was ejected. Mr Daniels was unable to respond to the questions in time for the original deadline of close of business Thursday, due to bereavement in his family. Bolander was contacted tele- phonically on Friday afternoon by municipal communications manager Vernon Bower, who undertook to get a response from Mr Daniels on Monday January 31, by 10am, for publication with the story. At 10am Monday, Mr Bower contacted Bolander and said that Mr Daniels wanted to “meet with you and Mr Davidson and sit around a table and talk this out”. Bolander declined to meet with Mr Daniels, and reiterated the request for answers to the ques- tions posed. Bolander was called a few min- utes later by Mr Daniels’ per- sonal assistant, who communi- cated essentially the same message as Mr Bower. Bolander once more declined, and requested answers to the questions submitted. Mr Bower contacted Bolander again at about 11.45am, and reit- erated that Mr Daniels wanted to meet with Bolander to discuss the matter, which Bolander once more declined. Mr Bower made it clear that “it would be a good idea for you meet with Mr Daniels”. Bolander challenged this assertion, classifying it as undue political pressure, which Mr Bower denied on the grounds that his appointment “is not political”. He did, however, acknowledge that he was speaking on behalf of Mr Daniels, who is a political appointment. Mr Bower then ter- minated the call, declining to comment further. Bolander received an email from Mr Daniels (the first direct communication with Mr Dan- iels) on Tuesday afternoon, in which he reiterated his desire to meet at the “best possible time”. Bolander once more declined, and requested answers to the questions originally posed. The final (email) communica- tion from Mr Daniels arrived on Thursday morning, in which Mr Daniels reiterated his desire to meet, but now stating that “It will take me far too long to give you a written response to all the issues raised in your letter.” The questions posed to Mr Daniels are repeated below for the record. ● Were you invited to the meeting, did you initially accept, and then withdraw? If so, why did you not attend the meeting? ● In your absence, was Basil Davidson (planning, property and integrated human settlements director) granted any delegated authority, and if so what was the nature and extent of that dele- gated authority? ● With regard to Mr Davidson ordering the media to leave: was he carrying out your or somebody else’s instructions, and if so, whose? ● Is there a formal written pol- icy to exclude the media from meetings of a “planning nature”, and could you please explain the motivation for such a policy? ● If he was not carrying out anybody’s explicit instructions, and there is no such official pol- icy, did he act within his powers? ● Did Mr Davidson have the right to eject the media from the meeting, and do you support his actions? ● If you support his actions, what does the municipality have to hide? At the time of going to print, Mr Daniels had not responded to Bolander’s last email declining the invitation to meet, and requesting once more, answers to the above questions. Maggie Follett Wellington music teacher Lise- lotte Costandius and pupils cele- brated the year’s progress at an informal evening concert for par- ents and friends, held at the town’s AGS Church at the end of last year. The nine private pupils (who range in age from eight to 35-plus) demonstrated their prowess in piano, guitar and vocals, with tal- ented young pianist Ancu van Wyk – a former pupil now study- ing music at Stellenbosch Univer- sity – as accompanist. The audience was also treated to solo performances by soprano Ms Costandius, fellow music- teacher Dalene du Pisanie (from Table View), and Gordon’s Bay- based singer and pianist Nicode- mus Olivier, who doubled as MC. Mr Olivier congratulated the five pupils who are enrolled, through Ms Costandius, with the Trinity College of London. All passed their music exams – assessed in Stellenbosch by a vis- iting British judge – with flying colours. “It’s a tremendous achieve- ment. Trinity is known for their exacting standards,” she admits, “so the fact that my students’ marks averaged out at well over 70% makes me extremely proud.” With external music pro- grammes – including those offered by Trinity College and Unisa – to be phased out of the school cur- riculum, due to “implementation, management and administrative problems” according to Minister of Basic Education, Angie Mot- shekga, pupils will in future only be able to study these courses through private tutors. “It’s another example of the government putting arts and cul- ture last,” says Ms Costandius, who provides tuition in singing, and diverse musical instruments. ■ Music teacher Lise- lotte Costandius celebrates with protegés and pals. Back row, from left, are Seaneon Rucelli, Frances Anderson, Dalene du Pisanie, Melissa Hovestadt and Chloe Bailey. In the centre, from left, are Nicodemus Olivier, Lise-lotte Costandius, Tessa Follett-Botha, Ancu van Wyk, Amina Sayed and Sky Bailey. In front, from left, are Jean-Pierre Beukes and Jaco Beukes. Wellington music teacher keeps Trinity College flag flying Municipal manager stays mum over ban What’s On H i s a p p o i n t m e n t i s n o t ‘ p o l i t i c a l ’ ‘ ‘ Hiking book launch “Adventure Hikes in the Cape Peninsula” by Karen Watkins will be launched at the Bill Bowden Pavilion, Wyn- berg Boy’s High School, Aletta Way, Wynberg today Wednesday Febru- ary 9, at 6pm. For more details email [email protected] or call 021 938 9365 during office hours or 082 493 4372. If you cannot come to the launch, the book is available at Kirsten- bosch or from karen. [email protected] ● Karen Watkins is reporter on the Constan- tiaberg Bulletin, sister paper of Bolander.
Transcript of Bolander 09 Feb 2011
7Woensdag 9 Februarie 2011 BolanderGemeenskap
R499-00 Ex
(fora single
residential property)
For Both Beetle and
Electrical Inspections
Tel: 021 851 7423 /
851 5420
OM/12/7601202
... want the romance to last beyond
Valentine’s Day?
valentine’s
find out how at...
Reg No. 040-023-NPO
10 - 17 Feb 2011 AT A VENUE NEAR YOU
Contact 021 438 4077 (9am-4pm) or visit alphawcape.co.za for details.
Norman McFarlane
The ejection of the mediafrom a meeting at the Stel-lenbosch municipality last
week Monday (“Media oustedfrom Stellenbosch municipalityplanning meeting”, Bolander,February 2) by a municipal offi-cial, Basil Davidson, culminatedin Bolander emailing a series ofquestions to municipal managerDavid Daniels on Tuesday Janu-ary 25, seeking clarity on why themedia was ejected.
Mr Daniels was unable torespond to the questions in timefor the original deadline of closeof business Thursday, due tobereavement in his family.
Bolander was contacted tele-phonically on Friday afternoonby municipal communicationsmanager Vernon Bower, whoundertook to get a response fromMr Daniels on Monday January31, by 10am, for publication withthe story.
At 10am Monday, Mr Bowercontacted Bolander and said thatMr Daniels wanted to “meet withyou and Mr Davidson and sitaround a table and talk this out”.Bolander declined to meet withMr Daniels, and reiterated therequest for answers to the ques-tions posed.
Bolander was called a few min-utes later by Mr Daniels’ per-sonal assistant, who communi-cated essentially the samemessage as Mr Bower.
Bolander once more declined,and requested answers to thequestions submitted.
Mr Bower contacted Bolanderagain at about 11.45am, and reit-erated that Mr Daniels wanted tomeet with Bolander to discuss thematter, which Bolander oncemore declined. Mr Bower made itclear that “it would be a good ideafor you meet with Mr Daniels”.
Bolander challenged thisassertion, classifying it as unduepolitical pressure, which MrBower denied on the grounds thathis appointment “is not political”.
He did, however, acknowledgethat he was speaking on behalf ofMr Daniels, who is a politicalappointment. Mr Bower then ter-minated the call, declining tocomment further.
Bolander received an email
from Mr Daniels (the first directcommunication with Mr Dan-iels) on Tuesday afternoon, inwhich he reiterated his desire tomeet at the “best possible time”.
Bolander once more declined,and requested answers to thequestions originally posed.
The final (email) communica-tion from Mr Daniels arrived onThursday morning, in which MrDaniels reiterated his desire tomeet, but now stating that “It willtake me far too long to give you awritten response to all the issuesraised in your letter.”
The questions posed to MrDaniels are repeated below for therecord.
● Were you invited to themeeting, did you initially accept,and then withdraw? If so, why didyou not attend the meeting?
● In your absence, was BasilDavidson (planning, property andintegrated human settlementsdirector) granted any delegatedauthority, and if so what was thenature and extent of that dele-gated authority?
● With regard to Mr Davidsonordering the media to leave: washe carrying out your or somebodyelse’s instructions, and if so,whose?
● Is there a formal written pol-icy to exclude the media frommeetings of a “planning nature”,and could you please explain themotivation for such a policy?
● If he was not carrying outanybody’s explicit instructions,and there is no such official pol-icy, did he act within his powers?
● Did Mr Davidson have theright to eject the media from themeeting, and do you support hisactions?
● If you support his actions,what does the municipality haveto hide?
At the time of going to print,Mr Daniels had not responded toBolander’s last email decliningthe invitation to meet, andrequesting once more, answers tothe above questions.
Maggie Follett
Wellington music teacher Lise-lotte Costandius and pupils cele-brated the year’s progress at aninformal evening concert for par-ents and friends, held at the town’sAGS Church at the end of lastyear.
The nine private pupils (whorange in age from eight to 35-plus)demonstrated their prowess inpiano, guitar and vocals, with tal-ented young pianist Ancu vanWyk – a former pupil now study-ing music at Stellenbosch Univer-sity – as accompanist.
The audience was also treated
to solo performances by sopranoMs Costandius, fellow music-teacher Dalene du Pisanie (fromTable View), and Gordon’s Bay-based singer and pianist Nicode-mus Olivier, who doubled as MC.
Mr Olivier congratulated thefive pupils who are enrolled,through Ms Costandius, with theTrinity College of London.
All passed their music exams –assessed in Stellenbosch by a vis-iting British judge – with flyingcolours.
“It’s a tremendous achieve-ment. Trinity is known for theirexacting standards,” she admits,“so the fact that my students’
marks averaged out at well over70% makes me extremely proud.”
With external music pro-grammes – including those offeredby Trinity College and Unisa – tobe phased out of the school cur-riculum, due to “implementation,management and administrativeproblems” according to Ministerof Basic Education, Angie Mot-shekga, pupils will in future onlybe able to study these coursesthrough private tutors.
“It’s another example of thegovernment putting arts and cul-ture last,” says Ms Costandius,who provides tuition in singing,and diverse musical instruments.
■ Music teacher Lise-lotte Costandiuscelebrates withprotegés and pals.Back row, from left,are Seaneon Rucelli,Frances Anderson,Dalene du Pisanie,Melissa Hovestadtand Chloe Bailey. Inthe centre, from left,are Nicodemus Olivier,Lise-lotte Costandius,Tessa Follett-Botha,Ancu van Wyk, AminaSayed and Sky Bailey.In front, from left, areJean-Pierre Beukesand Jaco Beukes.
Wellington music teacher keeps Trinity College flag flying
Municipal managerstays mum over ban
What’s On
His appointment
is not‘political’
‘ ‘
Hiking book launch
“Adventure Hikes in theCape Peninsula” byKaren Watkins will belaunched at the BillBowden Pavilion, Wyn-berg Boy’s High School,Aletta Way, Wynbergtoday Wednesday Febru-ary 9, at 6pm.
Fo r m o re d e t a i l semail [email protected] orcall 021 938 9365 duringoffice hours or 082 4934372.
If you cannot come to the launch, the bookis available at Kirsten-bosch or from [email protected]
● Karen Watkins isreporter on the Constan-tiaberg Bulletin, sisterpaper of Bolander.
