POLOKWANE – An advertisement regarding the closure of a portion of Genl Joubert Street in terms of Section 67 of the Local Government Ordinance 17 of 1939 was approved by the Polokwane city council on Thursday.
The permanent closure of a portion of the street would be to provide for parking in respect of the African Market and surrounding businesses.
The African Market, a structure that had been planned since 2004, was to be used by hawkers and entrepreneurs for trading in a regulated and orderly way, as well as to keep them off the streets.
The council also heard that provision would be made for a control system to be implemented in liaison with the traffic and licensing strategic business unit “to the benefit of all parties”.
It was also proposed that participation and stakeholder management processes with the affected property owners and street traders be undertaken jointly with the directorate transportation services to avoid duplication and litigation.
The construction of the African Market was completed in 2010/11, but no occupation certificate could be issued as the municipality failed to comply with their own building regulations and by-laws in that no provision for parking was made.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said while the zoning of the area was correct, parking was a concern, and a request to council was being formulated to allow occupation of the building as is.
The municipality hand-delivered letters to adjacent property owners who would be affected by the closure in October 2013, but nobody responded, council further heard. A meeting held with adjacent owners in April this year showed that business owners were not happy with the proposal to close the street.
