Reporter – Felicity Jooste
MALMESBURY:- A fiery social media post by community activist Jacques De Koker has once again highlighted the frustrations of residents who feel abandoned by local leadership.
“Imagine this DA invisible Mayor has time to parade in Langebaan while our kids are dying in Swartland,” De Koker wrote, slamming the lack of urgent response from Swartland Municipality.
According to him, crime and violence have reached unbearable levels: “Each and every day someone is shot, someone is stabbed, someone passes away. Families are mourning while we have a useless Mayor that’s doing nothing while he has all the power to do something.”
De Koker also accused the municipality of failing to extend law enforcement hours to 24/7, despite repeated calls from the community. “We begged that the law enforcement hours be changed, so they can work hand in hand with the police – but no, our kids must die.”
In his post, he directly called out Cllr Hennie Durandt, questioning why minutes of a key meeting with the West Coast General have not been released: “How many more deaths before you hand over those minutes so I can take our petition to Parliament? I’ve been begging for months.”
Community hashtags quickly spread across platforms:
#Swartland #Gatvol #EnoughIsEnough
“We can’t go on like this, crime has taken over,” said one resident in response.
“If leadership fails, the people will stand up, enough is enough!” another added.
Picture – social media
