DA takes Benoni Country Club issue to the Public Protector

The public participation meeting will take place at 7pm in the BCC’s main hall.

With the meeting fast approaching, where the community’s opinion of the proposed development or sale will be gauged, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni announced, in a press statement on Monday, November 14, that the party will be approaching the office of the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, regarding the club.

“After being informed of alleged allegations regarding irregularities surrounding the Benoni Country Club as a strategic land parcel (SLP), we believe the community has the right to know,” the statement reads.

“It is for this reason that we will be approaching the Public Protector’s office to investigate the allegations regarding the sudden inclusion of the BCC as an SLP.

“In the original item passed by council, the BCC does not appear, but subsequently claims have arisen that it will be included as a development.

“The DA will be escalating the claims of irregularities to the relevant investigating bodies and will not stop ensuring that the voices of the community are heard surrounding this matter.”

CLICK HERE for the previous article (Benoni Country Club not a strategic land parcel?)

Residents encouraged to take a stand against BCC proposal

Meanwhile, the BCC executive committee continues to call for huge support at Tuesday night’s public meeting, from members, surrounding homeowners, the community at large and other interested parties.

BCC CEO Darren Millington explained that, last year, the club was approached by two possible developers, and it was made clear to both parties that the club was not interested in engaging any further with respect to any further potential development.

“We believe that developers have, through their greed for financial/commercial gain, been allowed to raise interest and convince council to consider disposing of an asset that has been a proud heritage of Benoni for 110 years,” he said.

“Public participation is the start of a lengthy legal process that council must follow before it can sell a ‘valuable’ asset that it controls and maintains on behalf of the community.”

Millington added that the club’s members mandated the executive committee to strongly oppose any further development of the property, at a well-attended extraordinary general meeting at BCC, on January 27.

“We will, in accordance with this mandate, continue to voice our objections to any development,” he said.

He said that the major reasons why the members voted against the sale/development were recorded as follows:

• Green belt and wild life destruction – The forests and open land not occupied by the golf course is currently home to an abundance of wild life and the only safe cycle track enjoyed by the community in Benoni on a daily basis.

• The development will destroy the parkland golf course which is currently rated 82nd in SA and home to 1 500 members and many visitors from the community.

• The sale would result in the club being controlled by developers and not by the members and community per se. The developers will obviously maximise commercial gain by way of developing high density houses/commercial buildings and utilising as much of the property as possible in the process. They will restrict access to the facilities and the club will be converted to a restricted golf estate, that’s if they decide to keep the course.

• The lack of services, such as sewerage, water, electricity and roads in the area will not support a development of this size, placing even more pressure on the surrounding residents. This is documented / stated in the EMM contractor’s report.

• The current economic climate is not conducive for another major residential development 500 meters down the road from Ebotse. Leaving the surrounding residents with a major risk that the property development fails midway through the development and without a caring club to keep up the much required on-going maintenance.

• BCC employs approximately 80 to 100 staff members who rely on the club and the community for their economic well-being.

“It is in the interest of all Benoni residents who care about Benoni to make a stand against this sale, as this will set a massive precedent for the remaining communal-owned facilities enjoyed by Benonians.”

ALSO READ:

History of Benoni Country Club

Big sigh of relief for Benoni Country Club

Council approves report for Benoni Country Club public participation process

Benoni Country Club public participation meeting postponed

First story: Development threatens Benoni Country Club’s existence

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