The severe summer heat has not even set in properly and already there has been a drowning in the Berg River opposite the Arboretum in Paarl.
A man who had allegedly been partying with friends last Wednesday evening on the embankment of the river disappeared into the water, never to be seen alive again.
This brought back memories of the total chaos which erupted on the banks of the river, in this very area, in mid-summer earlier this year when hundreds of people descended on the river, breaking many by-laws on the books of the Drakenstein Municipality.
This left in its wake a surge of anger among residents who had to deal with unruly and unlawful behaviour, littering and more, right on their doorsteps.
And then again, there were also at least two drownings here during that time.
The sentiment of the leadership of the municipality then was: “Swim at your own risk.” And so the illegal swimming and partying behaviour of people is sure to continue again this year.
One can only hope (or dream) that the decision makers of the municipality are busy preparing their law-enforcement division as well as other departments to deal with illegal activity along the banks of the Berg River this summer.
And for a change take into consideration the plight of the tax-payers on who’s doorstep this is taking place.
