Residents consider legal action to stop development
The development of 14 town houses in the Phil Erasmus Park, in Airfield, is expected to go ahead, despite residents saying they were never given an opportunity to object to the development.
Community members met on Sunday, in the Phil Erasmus Park, to discuss the upcoming development.
They were shocked and outraged that the go-ahead was given to develop the park, which they say is their “green lung”.
About 30 residents, including the Airfield Action Group Committee and Ward 27’s Clr Gerrie Kriek attended the meeting..
At a meeting held a month ago, Kriek told residents he was not aware of the council’s approval of the development, but would investigate and arrange a follow-up meeting with the community in a month’s time.
The City Times spoke to about 10 Airfield residents who all said they were never notified of the development, nor were they ever given an opportunity to object to it.
One such resident is Carole Weaver-Steyn, who has lived in Airfield for 64 years.
“I never saw any notices go up, we weren’t ever notified,” she said.
“The first we heard of it was when Andrew (Radloff) told us about it.
“Everybody here says they never received any notification of the development.”
Colleen George, who has lived in Airfield for 29 years, said she has never received any notice of the development, prior to the advertisement board going up in the park to market the units.
Ekurhuleni sent the City Times a statement which stated that there was an objection period.
“There were no objections against the development,” said Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
“The Benoni amendment scheme 1/1248 was promulgated on June 23, 2004, which also offered an opportunity to the neighbours to lodge objections or representations against the amendment scheme, 1/1248.”
Andrew Radloff, founder of the Airfield Action Group Committee, which was set up to stop the development of the park, said the committee will decide what to do to save the it.
“We have to try to stay positive, I must acknowledge it was a shock for us to hear, but we are looking at measures to take it forward,” said Radloff,
He urged residents not to overreact, but to go home and talk to each other and added that the committee would have to work through the documentation.
He said a legal route is an option.
Radloff said it is very important to communicate and stand together to stop the building of the units.
He suggested the committee should legally secure the rest of the park, to save it from further development.
