MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) released a statement following protest action at Benevolent Park senior citizens' complex on Wednesday, 23 April.
The statement, released later that evening, reiterates the ACDP's solidarity with residents demonstrating due to dissatisfaction with the current management and board of directors of Benevolent Park.
The party also opposed the possible eviction of seven residents of the senior citizens' complex.
Concern
The ACDP voiced its concern regarding Mossel Bay Municipality's alleged inability to provide the original agreement or contract it held with Benevolent Park.
According to the ACDP's statement, the municipality stated that it no longer has this document on record.
"We strongly support calls for a formal and urgent investigation into the facility's change from a non-profit organisation (NPO) to a non-profit company (NPC) - a move that raises serious questions about legality, ethics and governance," reads the statement.
The conversion was made by the municipality in 2024, apparently in a bid to save Benevolent Park, which was facing financial challenges.
However, the decision was reportedly opposed by some residents and the broader community.
The ACDP voiced opposition to deregistering Benevolent Park as an NPO at the time the decision was made, openly questioning the motive behind the conversion to an NPC. Mossel Bay Advertiser contacted the municipality for comment regarding the ACDP's statement.
It responded: "In terms of a council resolution, the property was leased to the Mosselbaai Benevolent Vereeniging vir Bejaardesorg, being an NPO for a period of nine years and 11 months as from 1 November 2013.
"Upon expiry, council resolved to lease the property to a newly-established NPC, namely the Benevolent Park Non-Profit Company (NPC)."
'Equally alarming'
Speaking on the ongoing eviction order, the ACDP called the situation "equally alarming".
According to the ACDP and the residents facing possible eviction, the reason is allegedly because those residents "raised concerns about the legality of the NPC registration or questioned the increasingly authoritarian approach to management" noted the ACDP in its statement.
The ACDP has called for full transparency from the municipality as well as a pause on all eviction proceedings.
The seven residents appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court in February and are awaiting a new court date.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
