Kyalami residents oppose development

Kyalami residents gathered to discuss key issues in the area regarding biodiversity, infrastructure, urbanisation and general resident concern.

Kristen Kallesen, chairperson of Gekco, organised and orchestrated the meeting. The main topics on the agenda were the increasing amounts of infrastructure developing in the area, as well as crime hot spots and security issues. With the increasing amounts of developers coming into the area, residents raised concerns as they felt it was unnecessary to allow developers to build more residential complexes on sacred or ecological lands. Known for its beautiful and tranquil equestrian acres, Kyalami remains one of the only residential areas in Johannesburg where biodiversity is still thriving midst humans. This was seen recently on the Gekco field camera, as hedgehogs are reappearing in some of the areas in the conservancy.

Additionally, Rosemary Sanderson was invited to head up a discussion on possible solutions for the area. Sanderson worked closely with key community members at Bishops Court in Cape Town in the 70s. They managed to turn around the area and make it one of the highest valued areas in the province. Although Kyalami has different, and diverse, problems, the key concepts highlighted in Sanderson’s story was the idea of a bigger community. One of the highlights was bridging the gap between community members and the areas, and working together to protect the area and making it a better place to live. Sanderson, who now lives in Johannesburg, pleaded with some of the residents not to allow Kyalami to become as overdeveloped and concentrated as Lonehill and Beverly.

Kallesen noted the community needs to come down on external pressures in the area in order to protect some of the biodiversity and flora and fauna unique to the area. Furthermore, she added that it is really difficult to oppose urbanisation. Gekco is trying to reduce this by creating a platform for discussion between residents and developers. She went on to say the community needs to get involved with Gekco and use the body as a resource to disseminate and discuss issues.

In order to eradicate problems in the area, some residents felt the increasing amount of developments, illegal business, crime, rezoning problems, sub-division of properties, poor road infrastructure and lack of bridal and walking trails need to be addressed immediately.