Mashaba must clean up Joburg’s planning department

We welcome the move by the City of Joburg to shut down construction on a contentious property development in Auckland Park.

Police swooped on the site this week after the company involved – Century Properties – allegedly refused to comply with an earlier directive to halt construction because the building plans for the site have not been approved correctly.

We are concerned that a company – citing possible job losses as its excuse – can apparently defy municipal authorities and continue operations. It seems as though Century Properties’ attitude is that it is better to ask for forgiveness after the fact, than ask for permission beforehand. It goes without saying that this is a dangerous way to conduct business, no matter how much the project will create jobs.

Residents of the area have been trying to fight such projects for some time because, they claim, the developments violate the city’s own spatial planning guidelines and would ruin the residential nature of that area.

Already, a senior municipal official has been suspended pending an inquiry into the case.

We urge mayor Herman Mashaba – who has promised clean governance – to find out what is wrong in the planning department.

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