LINKSFIELD DEVELOPMENT

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  • The Ekurhuleni Metro sold the land to Pick & Pay in 2002 and the deal was cancelled when the metro opposed the development due to road access problems;
  • The matter was litigated and the land was reportedly transferred back to the metro, but most of the files have disappeared from metro archives;

  • In 2010 residents started to complain about intimidation from surveyors who surveyed the land and threatened residents that they must sell their homes or face expropriation;

  • In 2012 the metro invited councillors for a meeting with the developers when an applications suddenly surfaced;

  • Councillors Bill rundle and Heather Hart opposed this application due to lack of public participation and rezoning problems and the application had to be resubmitted;

  • In 2014 the developers posted a notice on their application in the middle of the veld next to one of the busiest roads in Gauteng, but it was not visible from the road and only one objection was received;

  • A tribunal was held where Councillor Rundle was purposely not notified and then MMC for City Planning, Bennet Nekani, personally intervened to fast track the development which was then approved;

  • Concerned residents and business owners then arranged a meeting with the Speaker of Council, Patricia Kumalo, to voice concerns and once again the Metro did not invite Councillor Rundle to this meeting;

  • Attendees reported back to Councillor Rundle that the Speaker indicated that the participations process must be redone and the project must be halted until this was done;

  • Councillor Rundle then tried to obtain a record of decision for this meeting but was snubbed by City Planning and the Office of the Speaker and was informed by way of a letter that the metro met with all compliance requirements - they did not.

Bill Rundle, Councillor Ward 19, billrun@hotmail.com, 074 111 2488    Contact the author of the petition