Africa-Press – South-Africa. With the predicted closure date of Plumstead Public Library fast approaching, the City of Cape Town is mum on the way forward.
News of the library’s closure first broke at the beginning of last year.
At the time, Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for community services and health, told People’s Post that the decision not to renew Plumstead library’s lease had been taken on Wednesday 15 December 2021 with a full sitting of council “in line with council’s decision to delimit external leases”.
Van der Ross said the predicted closure of the library would either be at the end of February or March 2023.
The library is located in the Village Square shopping mall.
Last week, People’s Post contacted the City, asking what the current status surrounding the lease of the premises at Village Square was. “The City is still considering all options. The community will be informed of any recommendations,” the City responded.
Toni Balona, secretary of the Friends of Plumstead Library, says they too are being kept in the dark.
“They keep saying they are investigating options. The decision, as I understand it, will have to be made soon as budgets have to be decided,” says Balona.
People’s Post last spoke to Balona during a protest held on Main Road on Mandela Day (Monday 18 July 2022). Community members, who support and use the library, were asking the City to if not retain the current venue at least find another, less expensive one in Plumstead.
Dr Wesley Seale, leader of ANC in Ward 73, who was instrumental in organising the protest, said there were at least four City-owned properties in the vicinity that stood empty. His suggestion was to renovate one of these properties and move the library there.
When asked if the City would be open to such an option, Van Der Ross said the City would take the needs of the patrons and sustainability of the services into account before making any final decision on this matter.
Now eight months later, it seems this decision remains elusive.
Balona says: “The patrons are very aware and as anxious as we are. We are still keeping up with all our projects and they are well-attended. We also have many new projects planned for the coming year.”
When news of the library’s predicted closure surfaced, library patrons responded with outrage. The general opinion was that the closure of the library would be a tremendous loss to many residents, young and old.
A petition, protesting the closure of Plumstead library, was quickly drawn up and circulated among residents for their signature
Balona says nearly 2 000 patrons and residents have since signed the petition. “I sent it off two weeks ago to Patricia van der Ross. As yet we have had no reply,” she says.
People’s Post contacted Eddie Andrews, councillor for ward 73, asking if he could provide any clarity as to the library’s immediate future. However, he referred People’s Post to the City for comment.
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