Executive Mayor - Cllr Herman Mashaba
MMC Environment and Infrastructure Services – Cllr Nico de Jager
MMC Development Planning – Cllr Reuben Masango
Cllr Ward 94 – Cllr David Foley
Dear City of Joburg Executive,
As residents of Kyalami – we have had enough.
Beaulieu residents are taking to the street to protest the construction of a sewer line without appropriate authorisations. Primary school children saw their parents standing up for the environment – their future.
What message are developers and the City sending – that profit matters more than a healthy environment?
Students protested in 2008 against the construction of a shopping centre in an equestrian suburb where you see horses ridden in the streets. That development was approved whilst no need was proven (as required by legislation). There were already plenty of shops within the immediate area. Residents were proved correct - that centre is struggling, as are the others in the vicinity. The centre’s infrastructure is now being used by speculators to motivate development outside the Urban Development Boundary in agricultural areas. Your policy clearly states the City can’t afford to extend services into these areas.
These agricultural suburbs employ thousands of people and contain wetlands and endangered species that residents and the Conservancy are working to protect. They attract tourists and sportsmen from around the world.
The shopping centre was built despite protests, requiring a new sewer line through wetlands and a proclaimed nature reserve. Within 18 months of operation two major spills sent raw sewage into the Bird Sanctuary. That pipeline was constructed and is still operating while under appeal at the Department of Water Affairs. Now the City, as the beneficiary of this pipeline, is allowing construction of a new section, without a license and in defiance of a letter from the Provincial authority to stop. Residents are forced to go to court to enforce laws; to oppose the very departments that are supposed to act in their interest. There is no due diligence from the City.
The City recognises this area, also known as the Greater Kyalami Conservancy as a Green Zone in your SDF. You say you recognise the importance of ecological areas yet your actions contradict this.
Buildings are approved by your department within wetlands and contrary to national laws. Developments go up without approved building plans and are not stopped. After they are built, you approve these developments and condone the contraventions. You refuse to consider new off grid technologies that are good for the environment – and save water. Often when residents object they are excluded from proceedings.
Our environment is being destroyed at a rapid rate for the profit of a few at the expense of the many. Developments can and should happen without breaking the law and ruining the environment. A ruined environment will be a cost for our future generations. You were elected to represent the residents of Joburg. You have a duty to uphold our Constitutional right to a healthy and safe environment. We are calling you to account. We request you come to Kyalami to see the destruction for yourself – after all it is your decisions that have enabled this.
Yours sincerely,
Residents of the Greater Kyalami area and the associations listed below:
Greater Kyalami Conservancy
Beaulieu Country Estate
Saddlebrook Estate
Glenferness Residents Association Supporting Sustainable Joburg City Policies (GRASS)
Kyalami AH Residents Forum
Updates
October 24, 2019
We hit five hundred signatures today. The weight of this fight is heavy and some days it feels like we are shouting into the wind, but seeing this many people acknowledge what is happening in our neighborhood keeps me moving forward.
Reached 500 supporters
October 21, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2019
265 Comments
Our wonderful wildlife are being squeezed out everyday by development, let’s try and help more by better controls, more “sympathetic” town planning and just appreciation of what we have and will surely lose. Our children should have the opportunities to see our wildlife in years to come.
I object to any development constructed within a wetland without the correct authorizations and understanding of the impacts that may occur as a result of such development. No developments should occurs in protected or conservation areas.
Keep our green spaces green. We are tired of sewage spills and power overload and traffic that the current infrastructure can't cope with. Rather spend money on updating current infrastructure.
Stop the developments on our last bits of nature in and around Johannesburg. We do not need more luxury estates and malls that benefit only a few. Nature cannot cope, our rivers cannot cope and our water, power and sewage infrastructure cannot cope. (and neither can COJ)
This is a disgusting regard to the law and our very unique bird sanctuary... developers are completely out of control and need to be held accountable for their blatant disrespect for the law...
Our natural environments need to be protected before man destroys absolutely everything on our planet.
Hands off our Wetlands! Hands off our wildlife!!
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Executive Mayor - Cllr Herman Mashaba
MMC Environment and Infrastructure Services – Cllr Nico de Jager
MMC Development Planning – Cllr Reuben Masango
Cllr Ward 94 – Cllr David Foley
Dear City of Joburg Executive,
As residents of Kyalami – we have had enough.
Beaulieu residents are taking to the street to protest the construction of a sewer line without appropriate authorisations. Primary school children saw their parents standing up for the environment – their future.
What message are developers and the City sending – that profit matters more than a healthy environment?
Students protested in 2008 against the construction of a shopping centre in an equestrian suburb where you see horses ridden in the streets. That development was approved whilst no need was proven (as required by legislation). There were already plenty of shops within the immediate area. Residents were proved correct - that centre is struggling, as are the others in the vicinity. The centre’s infrastructure is now being used by speculators to motivate development outside the Urban Development Boundary in agricultural areas. Your policy clearly states the City can’t afford to extend services into these areas.
These agricultural suburbs employ thousands of people and contain wetlands and endangered species that residents and the Conservancy are working to protect. They attract tourists and sportsmen from around the world.
The shopping centre was built despite protests, requiring a new sewer line through wetlands and a proclaimed nature reserve. Within 18 months of operation two major spills sent raw sewage into the Bird Sanctuary. That pipeline was constructed and is still operating while under appeal at the Department of Water Affairs. Now the City, as the beneficiary of this pipeline, is allowing construction of a new section, without a license and in defiance of a letter from the Provincial authority to stop. Residents are forced to go to court to enforce laws; to oppose the very departments that are supposed to act in their interest. There is no due diligence from the City.
The City recognises this area, also known as the Greater Kyalami Conservancy as a Green Zone in your SDF. You say you recognise the importance of ecological areas yet your actions contradict this.
Buildings are approved by your department within wetlands and contrary to national laws. Developments go up without approved building plans and are not stopped. After they are built, you approve these developments and condone the contraventions. You refuse to consider new off grid technologies that are good for the environment – and save water. Often when residents object they are excluded from proceedings.
Our environment is being destroyed at a rapid rate for the profit of a few at the expense of the many. Developments can and should happen without breaking the law and ruining the environment. A ruined environment will be a cost for our future generations. You were elected to represent the residents of Joburg. You have a duty to uphold our Constitutional right to a healthy and safe environment. We are calling you to account. We request you come to Kyalami to see the destruction for yourself – after all it is your decisions that have enabled this.
Yours sincerely,
Residents of the Greater Kyalami area and the associations listed below:
Greater Kyalami Conservancy
Beaulieu Country Estate
Saddlebrook Estate
Glenferness Residents Association Supporting Sustainable Joburg City Policies (GRASS)
Kyalami AH Residents Forum
Updates
October 24, 2019
We hit five hundred signatures today. The weight of this fight is heavy and some days it feels like we are shouting into the wind, but seeing this many people acknowledge what is happening in our neighborhood keeps me moving forward.
Reached 500 supporters
October 21, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2019
265 Comments
over developing doesnt add to national GDP it creates empty buildings that fall to pieces. Whoever was the idot that approved Kyalami Corner, well done to you, you're a chop and I hope you struggle to sleep at night. There's so many centers in this area with vacant shops.
Our wonderful wildlife are being squeezed out everyday by development, let’s try and help more by better controls, more “sympathetic” town planning and just appreciation of what we have and will surely lose. Our children should have the opportunities to see our wildlife in years to come.
I object to any development constructed within a wetland without the correct authorizations and understanding of the impacts that may occur as a result of such development. No developments should occurs in protected or conservation areas.
Keep our green spaces green. We are tired of sewage spills and power overload and traffic that the current infrastructure can't cope with. Rather spend money on updating current infrastructure.
Stop the developments on our last bits of nature in and around Johannesburg. We do not need more luxury estates and malls that benefit only a few. Nature cannot cope, our rivers cannot cope and our water, power and sewage infrastructure cannot cope. (and neither can COJ)
This is a disgusting regard to the law and our very unique bird sanctuary... developers are completely out of control and need to be held accountable for their blatant disrespect for the law...
Our natural environments need to be protected before man destroys absolutely everything on our planet.
Hands off our Wetlands! Hands off our wildlife!!
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over developing doesnt add to national GDP it creates empty buildings that fall to pieces. Whoever was the idot that approved Kyalami Corner, well done to you, you're a chop and I hope you struggle to sleep at night. There's so many centers in this area with vacant shops.