Shady development to go ahead
The land in question houses some 7 000 graves, a number of archaeological sites and a pristine Bankenveld grassland.
Residents have until February 1 to review the development information for the proposed 8 000 low income housing units on the remaining portion of Reitfontein Farm.
This is the last chance residents have to review the development and register any concerns which will be included and addressed in the Draft Scoping Report.
The land in question houses some 7 000 graves, a number of archaeological sites and a pristine Bankenveld grassland.
In the July 17 edition of the NEWS last year, it was reported that very little seemed to be known about the development and questions asked by the NEWS went unanswered.
The proposed development was published in a Government tender bulletin in December 2011 and called for proposals for an integrated residential development on the Rietfontein Farm.
Prequalification requirements stated that the development proposal should include an array of housing opportunities such as affordable housing units.
The 171 hectare property situated between Club Street, the N3, Linksfield Road and Modderfontein Road is worth R80-million.
Some of the concerns raised by Ward 19 councillor, Clr Bill Rundle, include the impact the development will have on traffic for surrounding suburbs of Edenvale and Bedfordview.
“There are a large number of indigenous plants on the property, some which cannot be found anywhere else in Johannesburg, including a rare miniature orchid,” said Clr Rundle.
Other fears for the development of the property include rumours of animal carcases infected with Anthrax were buried on the property.
“No one knows what’s buried on the property,” said Clr Rundle.
He also raised concerns of what will be done with the 7 000 graves on the property and whether there was a quarantine period in place before developments could take place.
“When developments start, Edenvale residents will not know what hit them,” he said.
According to Ward 72 councillor, Clr Steven Kruger, officials from Region E, under which the property falls, did not know about the development plans.
“It seems to be going ahead from provincial level without the participation of local municipalities,” said Clr Kruger.
Sizwe Hospital, which is also situated on the property, was established to treat diseases such as the plague, smallpox, leprosy and TB.
It is believed that some 7 000 victims of smallpox, leprosy, plague and syphilis were buried in the cemetery, divided into black, white and Jewish sections.
It is believed that a large portion of the proposed development will take place over the cemetery.
In 1904, the plague broke out in Johannesburg and more than 1 000 patients were treated at Sizwe Hospital.
Those who died were buried in a separate plague cemetery on the grounds, in graves demarcated only by numbers. In 1939, an outbreak of smallpox hit Johannesburg.
Patients were dying at the rate of 20 to 30 a day and were buried on the property.
As a precaution against the disease lingering, quick lime was poured into the graves.
The leprosy and Jewish cemeteries have not been located and the hospital’s burial register has been missing for years.
The development information is available for review by residents at the Linksfield Nursery situated on the corner of Linksfield Road and Club Street.
It is NOT the additional traffic that is a concern, or even “protected species of plants”. The fact is that those graves contain diseased & contagious corpses, actually skeletons now. Yes, anthrax, small pox & other contagious fever deaths etc. occurred at the hospital & the persons buried on site.(this was told to me a number of years back by one of the first citizens of Edenvale) Who has authorised the go ahead of the development? Who owns the property? They totally oblivious to the situation and need to be informed. Has anyone checked our local library, I am sure the history and facts of Rietfontein hospital will be there.
I think the question we should all be asking is how much is this development worth? To the developers, to the local government and to who ever the officials were that ploughed ahead without consulting the residents of the area of their intentions. One of the first notices of intent was hidden away in a gazette and discovered quite by accident by a local architect.
Just how much graft is involved here?
The part of Rietfontein Farm which is to be developed has a few serious implications. First of all the grave sites of which some are over 100 years old where people who are buried their, also died of the dreaded bubonic plague that hit Joburg around the turn of the 20th century.
The second being the traffic congestion that will cause absolute chaos. The upgrade of the Linksfield bridge and Modderfontein onramp/exit barely contains the flow of traffic at present. Do not forget there was outrage and an uproar from residents in the surrounding areas when there was talk of Huddle Park Golf course being developed.
Quite frankly this seems to be just another government official on a get rich quick scheme.