Dear Sir,
I have received and am responding to your memo addressed to Paarl residents dated 23 January.
What we have witnessed in Paarl, both in terms of disrespecting the law – and the lack of law enforcement over the past few weeks is unprecedented.
We, the ratepaying citizens and residents of Paarl were expecting to hear about measures that would be put in place to remedy this unacceptable situation, but instead we have received excuses and reasons for why this type of behaviour should be tolerated.
Reading your memo it is very clear you will tolerate lawless behaviour provided the perpetrators do not own air conditioners, swimming pools or have taxi fares in their pocket.
Sir, you are setting a very dangerous precedent.
One has only to look at the disasters that unfolded in Durban and parts of Johannesburg in mid-2021, when thousands of SA citizens decided to disobey law and order, ignore the authorities and help themselves to a wide range of items from a wide range of shops and institutions.
The laws of our land are to be enforced “without fear or favour”. No exceptions.
Executive Mayor, if you and your team are not capable or are unwilling to maintain law and order in our city then it is time for you to resign and be replaced with qualified and competent people who will be prepared to carry out the mandate of the job in question.
We are obliged to pay our rates and taxes, so you, sir, are obliged to fulfil the tasks laid out in your job description.
