Makro application overruled

Ward 106 councillor, Steven Moore, said he is thrilled the application for a Makro to be built in Magaliessig has not been approved.

“Viva Magaliessig Action Forum, Viva!” he exclaimed. Moore added, “It is amazing what dedicated and involved citizens can do! Possibly my happiest moment as Ward 106 councillor.”

He said the question to ask was not why it had been overruled, but rather why it was allowed by town planning in the first place. “Everything goes against it,” he said.

Moore warned that although residents could celebrate for now, this was not the end. “Makro has the right to appeal the overruling.”

28 August, 2.30pm

Reasons why the Mayoral Committee rejected the Makro application are still unclear but the chairperson of the planning committee has given insight into the process.

The City of Johannesburg’s Advocate Alwyn Nortje, who is part of the office of the executive mayor and is senior legal adviser, headed up the planning committee which chaired the Makro hearings last year.

He said after “proper consideration”, the committee made recommendation to the Mayoral Committee that the application be approved and therefore review the Fourways nodal boundary to include the proposed Makro site in Magaliessig. The applicant, Makro, argued during the hearings that the Fourways node was zoned for mixed use, including residential and business use, similar to Fourways Mall, Fourways Crossing, Montecasino and other appliance and building stores. The retailer wanted the node extended to include its proposed superstore site.

Nortje said, “The Planning Committee had to make the recommendation to the Mayoral Committee as it does not have the delegation to approve an application which is deemed to be contrary to the city’s policy for the area. The Mayoral Committee did its own site inspection and after considering a report submitted by me, as the chairperson of the committee, which included all of the parties’ submissions in a summarised format, the Mayoral Committee resolved not to approve the application.”

He explained this meant Makro’s application has been refused and the review of whether to move the nodal boundary is not necessary.
Nortje concluded, “I am sure though that the applicants will appeal to the Provincial Townships Board.”

27 August 8am

After three days of hearings last year, a Johannesburg planning committee recommended in February that the application to grant necessary planning permission for the establishment of a Makro in Magaliessig be approved. The planning permission needed was the extension of the Fourways nodal boundary and Regional Spatial Development Framework to include the section of land in Magaliessig, on the corner of Merrow Lane and Witkoppen Road.

In February, chairperson of the planning committee Alwyn Nortje said there was merit in approving the application but the Mayoral Committee could disagree with the application.

Magaliessig Action Forum, which has been at the forefront of fighting the Makro application in the residential suburb, heard the news from their legal representative Patrick Mundell on 23 August.

The forum’s Tamara Oberholster said, “Because this was against City of Johannesburg’s policy for the area, it was referred to the Mayoral Committee, and in a stement the committe said, ‘The Mayoral Committee after much discussion resolved that the recommendation of the Planning Committee not be endorsed and accordingly the application for township establishment Magaliessig Extension 68 is refused.’

“This is of course wonderful news for Magaliessig Action Forum and for the residents of Magaliessig who have been fighting against a Makro being built in our residential suburb for more than three and a half years now. We want to thank everyone who has supported us in the battle against creeping commercialisation to date and helped us to get to this point.”

Group corporate Aafairs executive of Massmart, Brian Leroni said the Mayoral Committee’s decision was “baffling”.

“Makro remains encouraged by market research findings that indicate that, notwithstanding the opposition of some residents in the immediate proximity of the proposed development, there is overwhelming support for a Makro store by residents in the wider market catchment area.”

Makro can appeal the Mayoral Committee’s decision and Leroni said, “We will continue to evaluate all available options as we seek to understand the Mayoral Committee’s process and associated motivation in vetoing the Planning Committee’s considered recommendation to approve the development.”

Leroni added there was an “unfortunate consequence” of the decision. “Residents, primarily those in Diepsloot, have been denied the opportunity to benefit from the jobs that will be created as a consequence of the development of a Makro store in the area.”