Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
With regard to the attempted eviction of the CP Nel Museum:
- Whether the Council of the Municipality of Oudtshoorn has passed a resolution to procure legal services to initiate an eviction process against the Board and management of the CP Nel Museum; if not, why has the Mayor proceeded with legal action; if so, why was such a resolution passed;
- what are the costs of the legal services incurred to date by the Municipality;
- whether he has engaged his colleague, the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, and the Mayor of Oudtshoorn about this situation; if not, why not; if so, what were the outcomes of these engagements;
- whether he intends to initiate the resolution of the current impasse; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
12(1) It has been affirmed that a legal notice has been served on CP Nel Museum. Further information pertaining to the question posed being awaited from Oudthoorn Municipality after enquiries were addressed to the Office of the Acting Municipal Manager.
(2) The information in this respect is being awaited from the Municipality.
(3) Upon my intervention on 21 June 2021, the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport and officials from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) met with the Mayor and Acting Municipal Manager of Oudtshoorn Municipality, which meeting was facilitated by the Head of Department from the Department of Local Government (DLG), resolving on amongst other items, that DCAS and DLG would arrange mediated meetings between the Board of Trustees of the Museum and the Municipality. DCAS and DLG proceeded with the setting up of the first mediation meeting between the Board of Trustees and the Municipality, however the Acting Municipal Manager of Oudtshoorn Municipality informed the Departments that the Municipality is no longer available in having further mediation discussions with the the Board of Trustees of the Museum. After receipt of the legal notice, the Board of Trustees have indicated their intent to dispute the merits of the legal notice through the appropriate legal avenues.
(4) As can be denoted from the details set out in paragraph 3 above, my Department together with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport have attempted to mediate the pending conflict or impasse between the Board of Trustees and the Municipality, however any form of mediation between the parties has remained futile and the impasse will require to be resolved through the appropriate legal forum.
