George mayor Leon Van Wyk has denied that he intends to closed the notorious Voëlklip road, near Herolds Bay, as suggested by some media outlets.
Van Wyk said on Tuesday he believed it was the actions of road users, and not the road, that had led to a number of incidents, including fatal accidents and suspected suicides, over the years.
He was expressing his displeasure with an article run in the Sunday Weekend Argus which reported that he had requested the road be closed.
Van Wyk denied speaking to the publication.
The report followed the discovery of the bodies of Ren and Leonie van Dyck on a bench at the side of the road on April 3 at about 4.30pm.
They both had gunshot wounds to the head.
George municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards said: “Van Wyk confirmed that he did not speak to any journalist on this matter.
“While initially it was thought he had been misquoted, it would now appear that the person telephonically contacted by the journalist in fact misrepresented himself as the mayor of George.”
Edwards said the municipality regarded this in a serious light and was investigating.
“Alderman Van Wyk would like to categorically state that he is opposed to the closure of this road given that it has repeatedly been highlighted that it is unfortunately the actions of road users themselves, and not the road itself, that have led to a number of incidents over the years.
“As indicated by the Western Cape department of transport, the request to close the road must be made by the owner whose property the road runs on,” she said.
HeraldLIVE
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