EDITOR – Regarding the public participation process of eThekwini council's resolution to lease Kings Park Precinct to Hoy Park Management.
I have written to the city manager regarding the purpose of the public participation process, which I feel is a farce and just more deception.
The eThekwini Municipality announced on 27 October that it was to embark on a public participation process regarding the matter and that the local
community will be invited to submit comments and make representations. The announcement further states that the academy will be built on the property surrounding Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, Smiso Nkwanyana Road and Jaco Jackson Drive, that a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports and Recreation and Hoy Park Management in June and in October Council resolved to a 30 year lease on the existing building on the premises to Hoy Park Management for development of the Sports Academy.
I drew to the city manager's attention to statements confirming the above by Municipal spokespersons Sibusiso Sithole, Tozi Mthethwa, Carlos Catalino and Mark Batchelor, a municipal press release issued on 12 August, the half-page Soccer Academy advert published in the Daily News on 14 August and threats by the City Manager, against current tenants, published in the Mercury on 14 September.
Notices to vacate were issued in July and served on Newmarket Stables, Stables Lifestyle Market and Newmarket Lodge, the eviction of Savages Athletics Club from the property was in February 2015, and there are on-going attempts to intimidate and coerce current tenants.
The Municipality commenced earthworks on the land in December 2014, as confirmed by Mr Carlos Catalino, and the city manager made statements, published on 12 August, that “the Municipality would not be sabotaged by a minority,” that “nothing would stop the Municipality,” that “no one could hold the project to ransom,” and “we are adamant that no minority interest will prevent us from the development going ahead.”
In light of the foregoing, and the fact that the City Council has confirmed its decision to award the lease and proceed with the development, I have asked the municipality to answer the question of what the purpose of the “public participation process” is in this instance.
Jeff van Belkum
Durban
