Residents reject precinct plan

Residents say they will not stand back and watch their rights be violated and they will not allow the city to bend the rules for the minority.

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he purchased his property more than 20 years ago, with the understanding that his property rights and residential one zoning (which means that properties can have only one dwelling per stand), would be protected by the CoJ.

“Over the years, I have watched helplessly as the suburb degenerated into an area where bylaws were continually flouted. These matters were reported to CoJ and little or no decisive action was taken.

“Officials often claimed that another official or department is responsible for whatever action needed to take place,” he said.

Some residents, who attended a public meeting earlier this year, feel they were lied to.

They were addressed by Clr Roslynn Greeff, member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for development planning and urban management.

Residents said they were promised swift action against bylaw offenders. “To date, we have not seen or heard about any decisive action being taken,” said the resident.

The resident said council’s actions, so far, speak of a devious plan to convince them to accept that the precinct plan will resolve their concerns.

“If the precinct plan is approved, it would absolve CoJ from having to take any action as the precinct plan would conveniently, and technically, make several of the bylaw infringements and illegal activities legal. I do not trust CoJ,” he said.

Another resident, who has been living in Cyrildene for more than 30 years, said she is worried about the proposed changes to the suburb.

“I have watched the deterioration of the suburb over the last 15 years and wonder where my rights are. I have no faith in the CoJ. I have no faith that, as legal law abiding residents, we have a voice. I have every faith that this outrage, which is being funded by the huge amounts of money funnelled into unknown hands, is going to win the day. There is total lawlessness in the area and no one is taking responsibility or protecting our rights.

“I am shocked that the buildings that have already been erected have been done so illegally, and people have escaped punishment. There is clearly bribery and lawlessness. I have regularly reported illegal building at the inception of the building and nothing was done,” she said.

The resident said she wants to preserve the suburb as a residential area and not have it change into a high density slum.