Cape Town - Attorney Gary Trappler, who has had a number of legal run-ins with individuals feeding the homeless in Green Point, will be running on a Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) ticket for election as a councillor for ward 115, which covers the suburb.
One of Trappler’s main pledges to the electorate – should they choose to elect him – is that he will closely monitor the situation of the homeless in conjunction with local residents and continue to bring pressure to bear on the City to find adequate alternative accommodation for them.
“This is a hotly debated issue and has been the subject of much litigation. In my professional opinion there is no getting away from the fact that responsibility for the homeless falls squarely upon the shoulders of the City.
“Having been involved on a professional level with many of the cases before the courts, I believe that I have the experience and professional expertise to play a meaningful role in contesting this space.
He said the onus is on the City to find a dispensation for the homeless which is fair and reasonable while striking a balance between their interests and the legitimate interests of law-abiding residents and ratepayers.
Trappler has also made promises to voters about motivating at City Council level for a reduction of rates as well as issues related to sanitation and the marine environment.
He said that prior to accepting the FF Plus nomination, he approached the DA and the Patriotic Alliance and also considered running as an independent, but was convinced to run for the party after meetings with fellow candidate Paul Jacobson, FF Plus MP Corne Mulder and mayoral candidate Lennit Max.
Ward 115 is currently represented by the DA’s Ian McMahon and includes Mouille Point, Green Point, parts of Paarden Eiland, Salt River and Gardens.
The Wazimap website shows that at the 2016 election the ward had 18 540 registered voters and that 60 percent of them or 11 209 cast their votes.