HUNDREDS of millions of rands in development and scores of jobs are being put on hold or lost in the Makana municipality because of administrative delays.
Builders and developers say they are facing hold-ups of up to three years to get plans passed.
As a consequence, a number of potential investors have taken their money elsewhere, while one businessman, a multi-millionaire, has threatened to “leave town”.
“This is harming builders, professionals, tradesmen and job creation,” said a local professional, who was afraid of being named.
Municipal spokesman Thandy Matebese was unavailable for comment.
However, the man at the centre of the row, Makana town planner Renier van der Merwe, said last year that he was overwhelmed by work, and that builders in recent years had tried to bypass his office and authority.
To illustrate this, he took this reporter to a poorly constructed building behind the taxi rank in the centre of town, which is turning into a slum.
Van der Merwe, an articulate man who is a magician in his spare time, said he was short-staffed and working late into the night to try to get through the work load, but was losing the battle of the files.
However, builders say its not good enough that good projects are gathering dust at the municipality.
Attorney Brin Brody, of Wheeldon, Rushmere &0x0026; Cole, said the municipality was found to be at fault by Judge Bonisile Sandi, who, on January 23, ruled in favour of land surveyor Peter Sulter, of MEH Sulter and Son.
Brody asked the court to order the council to make a decision on 23 applications for rezoning and sub-divisions, which would result in scores of homes and business premises being built. The Brody applications alone were for projects worth about R270- million.
The Makana council did not oppose the application and lost with costs estimated to be around R60000.
Last week, a special mayoral land housing and infrastructural development committee met, followed by a mayoral executive meeting, resulting in a decision on 11 out of the 23 Sulter projects. Six projects were approved, but it was reliably learnt that “the developers have lost interest” in at least three of the remaining projects.
“I will take my money elsewhere,” a developer is believed to have said.
A meeting with Mayor Pumelelo Kate and acting municipal manager Thabiso Klaas is expected to be held soon which, it was hoped, will speed things up. - The Herald
Builders and developers say they are facing hold-ups of up to three years to get plans passed.
As a consequence, a number of potential investors have taken their money elsewhere, while one businessman, a multi-millionaire, has threatened to “leave town”.
“This is harming builders, professionals, tradesmen and job creation,” said a local professional, who was afraid of being named.
Municipal spokesman Thandy Matebese was unavailable for comment.
However, the man at the centre of the row, Makana town planner Renier van der Merwe, said last year that he was overwhelmed by work, and that builders in recent years had tried to bypass his office and authority.
To illustrate this, he took this reporter to a poorly constructed building behind the taxi rank in the centre of town, which is turning into a slum.
Van der Merwe, an articulate man who is a magician in his spare time, said he was short-staffed and working late into the night to try to get through the work load, but was losing the battle of the files.
However, builders say its not good enough that good projects are gathering dust at the municipality.
Attorney Brin Brody, of Wheeldon, Rushmere &0x0026; Cole, said the municipality was found to be at fault by Judge Bonisile Sandi, who, on January 23, ruled in favour of land surveyor Peter Sulter, of MEH Sulter and Son.
Brody asked the court to order the council to make a decision on 23 applications for rezoning and sub-divisions, which would result in scores of homes and business premises being built. The Brody applications alone were for projects worth about R270- million.
The Makana council did not oppose the application and lost with costs estimated to be around R60000.
Last week, a special mayoral land housing and infrastructural development committee met, followed by a mayoral executive meeting, resulting in a decision on 11 out of the 23 Sulter projects. Six projects were approved, but it was reliably learnt that “the developers have lost interest” in at least three of the remaining projects.
“I will take my money elsewhere,” a developer is believed to have said.
A meeting with Mayor Pumelelo Kate and acting municipal manager Thabiso Klaas is expected to be held soon which, it was hoped, will speed things up. - The Herald