Georlene Wolmarans with her car

Visit Dronkgat… err… i mean Knysna, the prettiest town for public alcoholism in South Africa.

Ok, i’ve been away for 2 days, leaving you with scheduled posts but this is an original because i bumped into someone who wanted to know what my thoughts were on the Knysna Mayoral Committee’s approval of opening the beaches to alcohol in December. Well, i responded, i already thought that Mayor Georlene Wolmarans made crazy decisions against our town but her political suicide wasn’t on the list.

The DA’s support of business at a social cost is immoral. First they extended retail liquor sales hours and allow Oyster Festival alcohol advertising on a school field. Now they want drinking in public areas. Although many of us would love to have a sundowners with sand between our toes (and let’s admit it, we sometimes sneak one in), the fact is that if it were made permissible by law it would only amplify the massive alcoholism and associated crimes our town is already experiencing.

Not only is our massive alcoholism and drug problem not being tackled but now the politicians want to make it worse.

It’s a decision without foresight. I cannot imagine that the Knysna SAPS and Local Law Enforcement want this – they’re overstretched in the holidays as it is.

Again, the public were not consulted. These naughty politicians forget, too often, that they work for us.

And i haven’t even begun on the environmental cost (broken bottles will ensue) or the fact that we’re supposed to be “Naturally Knysna”.

But i’m betting that the outcry will be huge, as it was with the draconian dog laws (the subscribers on this page were a revolution for that one – do it again), and Georlene, our mayor, will not risk more unpopularity as the difficult, local elections approach.

It wouldn’t surprise me if one of her own DA mates, in another faction, uses this issue to score points with the public over her – that’s politics.

if you agree with me, you can stop it before it’s passed into law at the Ordinary Council Meeting by signing the petition at www.change.org/p/mayoral-committee-georlene-wolmarans-stop-24-hour-public-drinking-over-season-in-knysna.

You can also send Georlene an email in protest – mayor@knysna.gov.za. Don’t be scared, she’d love to hear from you, especially if you’re a member of the Democratic Alliance.