My husband and I are residents and property owners in Swellendam since 2015. We attended the first meeting for a Rate Payers Association which is now SPARC. 

We receive messages via WhatsApp from SPARC and it really concerns us how negative this committee running SPARC is towards the Swellendam Municipality.  

The information sent out in their messages is totally destructive towards the Municipality, never constructive. 

The Rate Payers Association should be a liaison between the Municipality and the rate paying citizens of Swellendam region and not a platform for political agendas. 

  Our Swellendam Municipality have once again attained a ‘Clean Audit’, something to be proud of but SPARC has not sent out any messages to SPARC group congratulating the Municipality. Why?  

Our Municipality manager, employees and Mayor Francois have been busy in January working with Project Hope with ‘Koop en Verkoop Market to help Community members sell their second hand unwanted goods, helping students with holiday work, Entrepreneurial Workshops (to teach unemployed persons skills to be able to self-reliant), Izi-Travel ( a free app to list Swellendam attractions and promote tourism to our wonderful town), building a park in Railton for residents to relax and enjoy family time. They have collected food from Supermarkets for Soup Kitchens in Railton, Barrydale, Buffeljags and Suurbrak, the Book Drive to collect second hand books for donation to needy schools.  

The above is in partnership with Project Hope and happened in January when many people are enjoying family time and holidays. 

The above positive achievements of our Swellendam Municipality and Mayor was never sent out in a SPARC message to their group. 

This conduct of SPARC is totally unacceptable. They are not supporting the Swellendam Citizens but have their own agenda to bring down a successful working Municipality and Mayor. 

Swellendam residents should stand up against this. 

  Noelene Cole, Garment Finishing Supplies cc