Mayor ousted through no-confidence vote
The month of February tested the democratic values and principles within the Drakenstein Municipal Council when even councillors within the benches of the governing party (DA) voted in favour of a motion to oust former Executive Mayor Conrad Poole. Of 62 councillors 34 voted for his removal. The motion was brought by opposition parties following allegations that Poole requested funds for some positions on his Mayoral Committee. Though an independent external investigation found “prima facie” evidence that he did indeed transgress certain sections of the Code of Conduct for councillors, the internal disciplinary processes yielded no fruit to have him removed. Poole was replaced by current Mayor Stephen Korabie on 5 April.
Reeks natuurlike rampe tref Drakenstein-gebied
Die Drakenstein-gebied het vanjaar waarskynlik die ergste natuur- en weerverwante rampe in ’n baie lang tydperk ervaar. Van swaar neerslae wat tot vloedskade gelei tot stormsterk winde wat veld- en strukturele vure buite beheer laat brand het. Vroeg in April het die eerste ramp reeds getref toe stormsterk winde totale chaos oor ’n groot deel van die Kaapse Wynlande en die Overberg-gebied gesaai het. Altesaam sewe huise en ’n aantal informele strukture is op 7 April tydens ’n brand in SmartieTown, Paarl-Oos vernietig. Die vuur is deur die sterk wind aangehits. Bykans 80 mense is gevolglik dakloos gelaat. Daardie selfde dag het ’n brand ook op die Paarlberg uitgebreek wat ook weens die wind buite beheer gebrand het. Drie maande later, in Julie, moes die Drakenstein-munisipaliteit in die nagtelike ure noodgedwonge die Newton-woonbuurt naby Wellington ontruim uit vrees dat ’n nabye plaasdam op die Bo-Dal-pad se wal sou ingee. Die dam se vlakke het vinnig gestyg weens die aanhoudende swaar reënval.
Hoofseun van Paarlse skool deur neef vermooR
Die moord op Julano King (18), hoofseun van die Paulus Joubert Sekondêre Skool in die Paarl, het oor die provinsie heen opspraak gemaak. King is deur sy neef op 16 Julie met die mes gesteek. Hy is deur sy skool en familie as saggeaard, musikaal en liefdevol beskryf. King sou volgende jaar onderwysstudies aan die Noordwes-Universiteit (NWU) se Potchefstroomkampus gestudeer het. Sy neef, Gershwin Fransman (23), het hom 29 Julie aan die polisie oorhandig en is van moord aangekla.
Train derails in Paarl injuring 24
At least 24 passengers of a Metrorail train were critically injured when three coaches derailed at the Dal Josaphat Station in Paarl on 17 September. The train was travelling from Cape Town. Hundreds of emergency services personnel descended onto the scene, which was cordoned off by South African Police (Saps) within minutes. Paarl Post’s friends within the local emergency services units were able to provide live updates which the publication was able to share with its online audience. An investigation by The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) said speed might have played a role in the derailment of the three passenger coaches.
