Dear Siegfried
Over the years I have appreciated and admired Groendaller’s so well written “Along the Stiebeuel” column, his insights and the focus he brings to issues in his community. I loved his description of the Matric excitement in November’s Tatler and applauded his call for adoption of a “Franschhoek First Policy” by locals in procurement and employment - although many already do so.
Groendaller’s description in December’s Tatler of loan sharks preying on the poor was painful and poignant and, along with Groendaller and others, I see the whole character of our village being changed out of recognition by recent developments approved by the municipality without due process or any public consultation.
Although I cannot speak for any developer (and would not want to), let me assure Groendaller, however, that I am 100% confident their motivation is not “to keep Franschhoek’s golden mile for whites only”. I am saddened if those living along the Stiebeuel (or anywhere else in Franschhoek) feel frustrated and excluded by recent developments as I imagine Groendaller is saying. Although some have opened I do not know what other shops there will be in the new developments. The concern of many residents is that they will be irrelevant to them and Franschhoek’s destiny is to be an open-air shopping mall for tourists only. We must wait and see but we may soon be united in our feelings of frustration and exclusion.
But what saddened me most in Groendaller’s column in December’s Tatler is his belief that the new PicknPay “only came into existence so white residents can have the luxury not to bump into a coloured person.” Stuart and Leigh have made an enormous contribution in many, many ways to Franschhoek for the benefit of all sections of our community. As I understand Groendaller he is suggesting their motivation to do all the work and take the financial risks of opening a second PicknPay was just to provide for “whites only”. If so it is not only very, very wrong but also very, very unfair. If I have misunderstood Groendaller I would be grateful if he could explain what he actually meant but if not, and his view is widely held, we have a longer road to travel than many may have thought.
My sincere good wishes to all Tatler readers for the festive season and New Year.
Barry Phillips
