PICKETERS representing the South Durban community took a stand outside the Greyville Racecourse during the Vodacom Durban July.
According to Desmond D’Sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Gold Circle sold the Clairwood Racecourse Property to Capital Property Fund who later changed their name to Fortress Income Fund, and since this sale, the MEC of Economic, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu has given permission to the developers to turn the last green space in South Durban into a logistics and trucking centre.
“This development will have catastrophic effects on the community and Durban as a whole. This will increase in an already highly toxic environment alarming levels of chronic asthma, leukaemia, and other cancers as there will be increased pollution, and in addition to this, will result in an increase in traffic congestion on residential roads and the M4 which will pose a risk and danger to pedestrians especially school-going kids,” said D’Sa.
SDCEA and the communities have opposed the development and the actions of people from Gold Circle.
“Residents vehemently disapprove of this venture and seek to expose Gold Circle for their greed and disregard for the lives of South Durban residents. Gold Circle has put R430 million first in their endeavours to increase their profits while the community will face 2 000 more hazardous trucks per hour on our roads. Already, trucks are responsible for the majority of severe traffic accidents in the South Durban area, killing residents at alarming rates,” said D’Sa.
He said the objective of the protest was to create awareness of Gold Circle’s actions, and express residents’ disappointment and anger regarding the sale of the Clairwood Racecourse site without public consultation to those who will be impacted the most.
“Despite the blistering cold, residents of South Durban stood united in spreading the message peacefully around the Clairwood Racecourse issue. It was only a few members but they definitely sent out a clear message and created awareness on the fact that Gold Circle did not consult with the community. Communities feel that this sale of land is going to destroy the stable and social fabrication of the area,” said D’Sa.
SDCEA handed out a memorandum that was signed by Mr Wesley Roux, HR specialist of Gold Circle and Des D’Sa of SDCEA to commit to further communication around these matters.
In response to queries by Berea Mail, Nico Prinsloo, development manager of Fortress Income Fund, said: “As the developer of the Clairwood Logistics Park, the JSE-listed Fortress Income Fund is committed to good corporate governance and investment that will create much needed jobs in the south of Durban. Throughout the planning process, Fortress adhered to all legislated requirements and fulfilled all the stipulations for the Environmental Authorization (EA), including public participation requirements.”
He said the company was committed to being a good neighbour to the surrounding community and had invested over R3,8 million in schools and community resources in the area.
“Fortress will be investing R110 million to improve the road infrastructure surrounding the Clairwood Logistics Park. Much needed upgrades of aging road infrastructure will include far safer waiting areas for school children in order to significantly reduce the possibility of pedestrian accidents. As part of the development, we will remove alien vegetation, create green conservation spaces of approximately 10 hectares on site and rehabilitate the wetland,” said Prinsloo.
Graeme Hawkins Gold Circle’s Marketing Executive, said: “As the sale of Clairwood Racecourse was a done deal four years ago, Gold Circle considers this matter closed and does not wish to comment any further.”
