Residents urged to stand together

GLENVISTA – When looking at the Comaro Chronicle of April 29, I saw the advertisement for the rezoning of stand 1793 Glenvista Extension Three from an education to a residential stand.

After my discussion with some community members concerned about this project, I learnt the following:

The current schools in the area are already turning pupils away because of overcrowding.

The stand is approximately 1.76 hectares with 60 units per hectare this will mean approximately 100 units on this stand. Now take 2 children per unit; this means schools are needed for another 200 children in this area when schools are already overcrowded.

The Municipal System Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act legislation were not adhered to when this land was swapped with local businessmen, which makes this entire transaction questionable. Therefore, the community should demand that investigations into these allegations should be conducted at a high level.

Various relevant government departments refuse to adhere to PAIA requests for information regarding these land swaps that are taking place.

Therefore, no rezoning application should be granted until the community’s requests for this information have been met.

Less valuable land in Diepsloot and Protea Glen was swapped for this valuable land, this when the State has land available in Protea Glen.

The land was swapped apparently because the Education Department built schools on land not belonging to the department. The question as to who sanctioned this decision is still unanswered by the department.

Information from the community indicated that this is not the only land designated for education that was swapped with the same businessmen.

They also swapped 1133 Randhart Extension 1 and 279 Alberante Extension 1.

Townhouses are already built on stand 1133 in Randhart.

The advertisement, advertising the rezoning, was removed from this site for reasons unknown; thus the community cannot lodge objections to something that was not brought to their attention. So the removal of this notice early must only be reducing public participation. The law requirements of the ordinance has not been met in this regard, and therefore this rezoning application should start from the beginning to give the public a chance to lodge objections.

We ask that the community lodge their objections to jroussouw@jrtpa.co.za and andre@glen5ra.co.za

Alternatively, go to The Executive Director, Development Planning, Room 8100 on the eighth floor, block A in the Metropolitan Centre, 158 Loveday Street, Braamfontein.

If you do choose this option, please remember to ask for a receipt.

You can also post objections by registered post to PO Box 30733, Braamfontein 2017.

Concerned Bassonia Community Member.