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Norman McFarlane

The ejection of the mediafrom a meeting at the Stel-lenbosch municipality last

week Monday (“Media oustedfrom Stellenbosch municipalityplanning meeting”, Bolander,February 2) by a municipal offi-cial, Basil Davidson, culminatedin Bolander emailing a series ofquestions to municipal managerDavid Daniels on Tuesday Janu-ary 25, seeking clarity on why themedia was ejected.

Mr Daniels was unable torespond to the questions in timefor the original deadline of closeof business Thursday, due tobereavement in his family.

Bolander was contacted tele-phonically on Friday afternoonby municipal communicationsmanager Vernon Bower, whoundertook to get a response fromMr Daniels on Monday January31, by 10am, for publication withthe story.

At 10am Monday, Mr Bowercontacted Bolander and said thatMr Daniels wanted to “meet withyou and Mr Davidson and sitaround a table and talk this out”.Bolander declined to meet withMr Daniels, and reiterated therequest for answers to the ques-tions posed.

Bolander was called a few min-utes later by Mr Daniels’ per-sonal assistant, who communi-cated essentially the samemessage as Mr Bower.

Bolander once more declined,and requested answers to thequestions submitted.

Mr Bower contacted Bolanderagain at about 11.45am, and reit-erated that Mr Daniels wanted tomeet with Bolander to discuss thematter, which Bolander oncemore declined. Mr Bower made itclear that “it would be a good ideafor you meet with Mr Daniels”.

Bolander challenged thisassertion, classifying it as unduepolitical pressure, which MrBower denied on the grounds thathis appointment “is not political”.

He did, however, acknowledgethat he was speaking on behalf ofMr Daniels, who is a politicalappointment. Mr Bower then ter-minated the call, declining tocomment further.

Bolander received an email

from Mr Daniels (the first directcommunication with Mr Dan-iels) on Tuesday afternoon, inwhich he reiterated his desire tomeet at the “best possible time”.

Bolander once more declined,and requested answers to thequestions originally posed.

The final (email) communica-tion from Mr Daniels arrived onThursday morning, in which MrDaniels reiterated his desire tomeet, but now stating that “It willtake me far too long to give you awritten response to all the issuesraised in your letter.”

The questions posed to MrDaniels are repeated below for therecord.

● Were you invited to themeeting, did you initially accept,and then withdraw? If so, why didyou not attend the meeting?

● In your absence, was BasilDavidson (planning, property andintegrated human settlementsdirector) granted any delegatedauthority, and if so what was thenature and extent of that dele-gated authority?

● With regard to Mr Davidsonordering the media to leave: washe carrying out your or somebodyelse’s instructions, and if so,whose?

● Is there a formal written pol-icy to exclude the media frommeetings of a “planning nature”,and could you please explain themotivation for such a policy?

● If he was not carrying outanybody’s explicit instructions,and there is no such official pol-icy, did he act within his powers?

● Did Mr Davidson have theright to eject the media from themeeting, and do you support hisactions?

● If you support his actions,what does the municipality haveto hide?

At the time of going to print,Mr Daniels had not responded toBolander’s last email decliningthe invitation to meet, andrequesting once more, answers tothe above questions.

Maggie Follett

Wellington music teacher Lise-lotte Costandius and pupils cele-brated the year’s progress at aninformal evening concert for par-ents and friends, held at the town’sAGS Church at the end of lastyear.

The nine private pupils (whorange in age from eight to 35-plus)demonstrated their prowess inpiano, guitar and vocals, with tal-ented young pianist Ancu vanWyk – a former pupil now study-ing music at Stellenbosch Univer-sity – as accompanist.

The audience was also treated

to solo performances by sopranoMs Costandius, fellow music-teacher Dalene du Pisanie (fromTable View), and Gordon’s Bay-based singer and pianist Nicode-mus Olivier, who doubled as MC.

Mr Olivier congratulated thefive pupils who are enrolled,through Ms Costandius, with theTrinity College of London.

All passed their music exams –assessed in Stellenbosch by a vis-iting British judge – with flyingcolours.

“It’s a tremendous achieve-ment. Trinity is known for theirexacting standards,” she admits,“so the fact that my students’

marks averaged out at well over70% makes me extremely proud.”

With external music pro-grammes – including those offeredby Trinity College and Unisa – tobe phased out of the school cur-riculum, due to “implementation,management and administrativeproblems” according to Ministerof Basic Education, Angie Mot-shekga, pupils will in future onlybe able to study these coursesthrough private tutors.

“It’s another example of thegovernment putting arts and cul-ture last,” says Ms Costandius,who provides tuition in singing,and diverse musical instruments.

■ Music teacher Lise-lotte Costandiuscelebrates withprotegés and pals.Back row, from left,are Seaneon Rucelli,Frances Anderson,Dalene du Pisanie,Melissa Hovestadtand Chloe Bailey. Inthe centre, from left,are Nicodemus Olivier,Lise-lotte Costandius,Tessa Follett-Botha,Ancu van Wyk, AminaSayed and Sky Bailey.In front, from left, areJean-Pierre Beukesand Jaco Beukes.

Wellington music teacher keeps Trinity College flag flying

Municipal managerstays mum over ban

What’s On

His appointment

is not‘political’

‘ ‘

Hiking book launch

“Adventure Hikes in theCape Peninsula” byKaren Watkins will belaunched at the BillBowden Pavilion, Wyn-berg Boy’s High School,Aletta Way, Wynbergtoday Wednesday Febru-ary 9, at 6pm.

Fo r m o re d e t a i l semail lac@sun.ac.za orcall 021 938 9365 duringoffice hours or 082 4934372.

If you cannot come to the launch, the bookis available at Kirsten-bosch or from karen.watkins1@gmail.com

● Karen Watkins isreporter on the Constan-tiaberg Bulletin, sisterpaper of Bolander.