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Brickvale: Gauteng government must explain why land was purchases at exorbitant price

The Gauteng local government must provide an explanation for why the Gauteng Department of Housing purchased a piece of land in Mogale City (Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift) for an amount of R63 million, while the Mogale City valuation roll indicates that the land is worth only R2,9 million.

The piece of land, known as Brickvale, Farm 161 IQ, was procured by the Department of Housing for the development of high-density housing even though environment impact studies have indicated that the area is not suitable for such development as it is underlain by dolomite.

Despite the FF Plus’s objections that the land is unsafe, that there was no public participation process regarding the development and that the development is not part of Mogale City’s integrated development plan, the Department is continuing with the development.

During a meeting of the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs committee (CoGTA) in June 2018, the FF Plus drew attention to these problems. The FF Plus and the chairperson of the committee addressed an urgent written request to the MEC for Housing, Mr Uhuru Moiloa, to stop the development immediately.

During a meeting in April 2018, the MEC assured the FF Plus that he knew nothing of this development and he promised to launch an urgent investigation into the matter.

However, in an episode of the television programme Fokus (22 July 2018, SABC 2), the MEC asserted that the Gauteng Department of Housing did indeed comply with all the legal requirements for the development.

Neither the Gauteng government nor the Mogale City Local Municipality can offer any geotechnical reports, which are required by law before the project can commence.

Karp Consulting, the firm that conducted tests and compiled reports for the previous owner, could not be reached for comment.

The FF Plus Councillor in Mogale City, Amanda de Lange, confirmed that she was part of the original committee in the Mogale City council that contacted Karp Consulting. According to her, the committee had serious misgivings about the dolomite land after studying their report.

Mogale City and the Gauteng local government are no doubt withholding vital information about aspects related to safety.

The FF Plus finds it worrying that the MEC is not willing to take action to immediately put a stop to this dangerous development. The MEC must suit the action to the word and launch an investigation into the exorbitant amount of money that was paid for the land. If such an investigation is not done and if the proper processes are not in place, then the project simply cannot continue.

The FF Plus is of the opinion that if this development continues, despite the warnings, then people’s lives may be at stake and the MEC will have to bear the responsibility if there is any loss of life due to houses collapsing.

The MEC’s assumption voiced in last night’s programme that the objections to the development are racist is completely devoid of truth. The FF Plus is worried that human lives may be endangered because the legal requirements were not complied with.

Link to the Fokus episode: https://youtu.be/FTcLWyPO1IE

 

Contact details

Philip van Staden: 060 556 4347

Amanda de Lange: 071 6049 498

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