Fence has town in a tizz
2005-06-06 08:47
Kestell - There is hell to pay in this Eastern Free State hamlet because of plans to erect a "devil's fork" palisade fence around the town's historical sandstone Dutch Reformed church and its surrounding garden.
AnneMarie du Preez Bezdrob, writer, former journalist and also previously peace officer of the United Nations (UN) in Sarajevo, held a poster protest on Sunday while a service was being held in the church to protest against the "unchristian, racist fence".
"There are complaints that the garden is used as a thoroughfare, of empty liquor bottles that have to be collected, and that a condom has been picked up.
"However, when you talk to people you understand that the purpose of the fence is to keep blacks from the garden.
"I talk on behalf of myself today, but also on behalf of members of the church who feel the same but are afraid to say: "Do not waste thousands of rand on a fence in a town where unemployment is rife."
"If the footpath made by the people using the garden as a thoroughfare bother people, give jobless people the opportunity to pave it and pay them for doing so.
"And also pay somebody to keep the garden in order," she said.
Some members of the church council were unhappy because of her protest action during the communion service "because it upset and unsettled" people.
She was told that she was missing the point; one churchgoer gave her a hand signal indication she was "stupid".
Du Preez Bezdrob, a member of the town's centenary committee, said she had an obligation the speak out.
"I try to be a good Christian. The second important command is to love your neighbour. How can people consider fencing in the house of the Lord with a huge steel fence to keep people out?
"There is an open and beautiful garden that looks like a park. The town is due to celebrate its centenary and many people will visit it.
"Is it necessary to project a message that the laager mentality is surfacing again?"
She said the preacher, the reverend Amos Kotze, could not give her the exact reason why the fence was to be erected.
Dawie van Niekerk, chairperson of the property commission of the congregation, and two other church council members, also failed to provide real reasons for the fence, she said.
"They were upset because I said it was unchristian, but did not comment on the fact that I said it was racist."
Van Niekerk said problems were experienced because of taxis parking under the trees on the premises and people sitting around all day and littering the area.
"It has nothing to do with black or white. That is absurd. We also have black members. The purpose of the fence is to ensure our privacy.
"The church council gave people an opportunity to object to the intended fencing of the church grounds. Not a single objection was received."
He said the property commission was willing to enter into a discussion with De Preez Bezdrob and other possible objectors.