No archive centre for Paulshof

Residents objected after an application was made in May by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation to establish a provincial archive centre, housing government industrial records, on an empty plot between Uvongo, Stone Haven and Amanzimtoti roads.

Deppe said residents’ objections to the centre included the unsightly view, noise and additional traffic that the centre would bring to the area, as well as the extra strain placed on services. According to Paulshof Residents and Ratepayers Association chair, Shathi Govender, residents also objected to the application on the basis that the land in question was zoned for education and was therefore not a suitable site for the proposed development.

Plans were eventually abandoned, however, in the face of more dramatic discoveries made during the course of a basic assessment by consulting company, Methâle Environmental. Title deeds revealed that the property in question was sold by the Gauteng Provincial Government to a close corporation, Erf 21 Kildrummy Sandton in 1998, although transfer and registration took place only years later, in 2012. The property was transferred to the Gauteng Provincial Government from the Republic of South Africa in 2000.

According to a letter sent in June by Methâle Environmental to interested and affected parties, a finding that the plot earmarked for development had been sold was considered “highly unfavourable for establishment of the proposed provincial archive centre” and the project was subsequently relinquished by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

The Paulshof community considers the scrapping of plans in a positive light. An archive centre simply wouldn’t fit into the residential area of Paulshof, stated Govender.

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