On Saturday, the Welkom Publicity Association (WPA) hosted its first flea market for 2023, attracting more than 100 exhibitors.
“The board was pleasantly suprised by the outcome on 14 January,” says Brian Emmenis, chairman of the WPA board.
However, a dark cloud hung over the festivities, and many exhibitors and flea market fundis were angered by the bad state of the grass and walkways in North Park, the venue for the monthly flea market.
“The maintenance of the park is always attended to by the Matjhabeng Parks and Recreation Department, but this month something went wrong and the grass was unsightly and long in places,” says Emmenis.
He says this was a major problem for the organisers, and unfortunately some exhibitors opted to vent their feelings on social media.
“They were slanderous and even nasty towards the WPA and the board in particular,” says Emmenis.
“I, as chairman, was very perturbed by the types of messages being bandied about for all the world to see.
“I don’t think many of the people posting those messages realise that slander and libel committed on social media is a criminal offence, and legal action can be taken against them,” he says.
Following the furore, the Matjhabeng Parks and Recreation Department has undertaken to always ensure that the terrain is clean and maintained.
“We realise that there is a lot of frustration and anger about what is currently happening in our country and in Matjhabeng in particular, but venting one’s anger and not providing a solution does not help in any way.
“The majority of the exhibitors, and many old faces and friends, gave us their support when they realised that the WPA was indeed doing its level best under very difficult circumstances to rectify the situation,” says Emmenis.
