M I TCHE LL’S P LA I N
MR. ’S MULTIFITMENT CENTRE Official Battery Depot
Spares • Batteries • Workshop Tel: 021 392 3 786 or 021 392 4 786
sales@mro.co.za
www.mro.co.za
628
460 500 R570 Sabat Calcium Willard Silver Calcium R600 Econo Premium
1YR WARRANTY + SCRAP
“ Te l lin g it a s it i s” E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday
22 February
2011
MasterCard®®
R
R
We accep t al l maj or Fl eet and Garage cards.
Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481
Strandfontein land sale ‘unlawful’ Residents Association seeks legal advice to fight against the ‘illegal’ disposal of land MELISSA PAPIER
T
HE mystery of who gave the instruction to sell a controversial piece of vacant land in Strandfontein for a housing development has been cleared up. People’s Post’s report on the matter (“Locals fight to block housing plan”, 31 August 2010) said Strandfontein residents were pulling out all the stops to deny a developer the opportunity to build houses on a vacant piece of land they claim was earmarked for community facilities. At the time residents were in the dark about who made the decision to sell the vacant land. People’s Post also asked the Department of Transport and Public Works, but it failed to comment by the time the previous article went to press. Last Thursday, the Strandfontein Ratepayers’ Association (SRA) held a meeting in the Strandfontein Community Hall, where feedback was given to residents. They were told by the SRA and Strandfontein Community Task Team secretary Ephraim Stanfield that the verbal instruction to dispose of the land was given by Marius Fransman, who was the MEC for Public Works and Transport at the time of the sale. Stanfield said: “The person who received this instruction was Henry Isaacs, who was the head of the property management department. “According to the Western Cape Land Administration Act of 1998, only the Premier, with members of the provincial cabinet, has the authority to dispose of land. There are no minutes that exist of that meeting. The organisation has consulted with an advocate and all details were given to him. “Our advocate informed the organisation
that the sale was unlawful and according to the department, a similar group had lodged a similar complaint.” Marius Fransman, the head of the ANC, Western Cape, told People’s Post that at the time the Transport and Public Works department dealt with the matters and that his intention was “for the community to benefit directly from the land”. “If anyone suggests that things were done underhandedly, it’s a lie. The land was intended for the community and it was the intention to make sure that a community trust directly benefited and legal advice suggested that the proper processes be followed,” he said. Fransman added that he would avail himself to the residents of Strandfontein to deal with the matter and cautioned residents not be sidetracked by political mischief. N-Hance Property Development has applied for the land to be rezoned from community facilities to residential use to enable a residential development. The application is under review by the City of Cape Town. The site on which the development is proposed – about 2,5 hectares – is bounded by Welgelegen Avenue, Walvis Road, Barracuda Way and Dennegeur Avenue. A library and community health centre are next to the vacant land. The proposed development will include upmarket single and double-storey houses of varying sizes. Open space for recreational activities will be included. It is proposed that the development be enclosed. The Department of Public Works said the land was sold through tender, after it advertised the tender opportunity in the Provincial Gazette and other newspapers in August 2008. Residents claim it was only when the consultants began an environmental impact assessment in the area that they became aware of the proposed development. They also say the site has been earmarked for a multipurpose centre. A task team was established by the residents of Strandfontein
WINNING PERFORMANCE: The Cape Malay Choir Board hosted the premier division of the its choral competition at the Good Hope Centre on Saturday. Eleven troupes gathered to battle it out for top honours, with the Angeliere Malay Choir from Athlone walking away with the spoils. The team will now compete in the Top Eight competition, which will see the best teams in all divisions competing against each other. That segment takes place on 19 March. The final showdown, regarded as the Grand Final, will take place on 16 April, which will see the winners of the Premier’s Cup and President’s Cup clashing. Here Faseeg Saal of the Angeliere performs his item on the night. Photo: Sharief Jaffer in December last year to liaise with the developer and ward councillor about residents’ concerns about and objections to the development. Len Swimmer, the chairperson of the Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance (GCTCA), informed residents about the organisation and what can be achieved if organisations work together. “Why have the various government departments taken so long to get back to the residents? The present administration needs to be aware that the land was zoned for community facilities and that it should be given to the community before more development take place. The community’s voices must be heard,” Swimmer said. Ward councillor Irma Jackson, also attended the meeting and residents had an opportunity to question her. Lionel Jacobs, chairperson of the SRA, said the area lacks basic facilities, and “before we start to build more houses we need to have facilities built for existing residents”.
CASH & CARRY Kellogg’s Corn Flakes 6x300g
Omo Washing Powder 10x250g
Shield Rollon 6x50ml
R9.99 each
R5.90 each
R59 99
R58 99
ATMs inside
Winners reserves the right to limited quantities. E&OE.
“We must fight for the community’s needs to be fulfilled first and ensure that what was meant for the community happens,” he said. Other residents shared Jacobs’ sentiments and were very upset about the lack of facilities in the area. They claimed that councillors only make empty promises. Jackson responded to concerns by saying that residents were “very lazy” to attend meetings concerning their community. “People are quick to complain, but they don’t want to be part of any organisation which can bring about change in the area. We need to work together to bring about change. Ward Forum meetings are the platform where this can happen.” She explained to residents that ward allocations were too little to cover the entire ward’s projects. People’s Post contacted the owner of NHance Property Development, Dr Mogamat Shafic Jacobs, for comment but he was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
13 Melkbos Str
Lentegeur
021-372 1106 021-372 1107/8
Month End Sale Sale from 22 - 28 Feb
Nola Mayonnaise 6x750ml
Coca-Cola Value Pack 24x440ml
Grand-Pa Powders 38s
Champion Toffees 144s
R8.33 each
White Star Maize Meal 10 kg
R12.99 each
R4.79 each
R0.68 each
R0.22 each
R49 99
R39 99
R77 95
R11495
R25 69
R31 99
PRICES VALID WHILE STOCKS LAST. E&OE WE ARE OPEN ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TRADING HOURS: Mon - Thurs 09:00 - 18:30 ~ Fri 09:00 - 12:30 & 14:00 - 20:00 ~ Sat 08:30 - 18:00 ~ Sun 09:00 - 13:00