WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2008-06-23 Time: 15:00:04 Posted By: Jan
By An(233)él Powell
Last-minute changes to spatial development plans for Klapmuts near Stellenbosch have been approved by the ANC-led municipality, opening the way for high-and middle-income housing developments on prime farmland.
And the involvement in some of the land by people linked to the ANC, including former Western Cape party chairperson Allan Boesak, has rung alarm bells.
Democratic Alliance ward councillor Dawid Botha said the council’s approval of changes, without first seeing a detailed map from the planning department, was “highly irregular”.
| ‘I am not against BEE, but I am for smart development in Klapmuts’ |
“There is no way we can approve the change of an urban edge without first seeing a map. Councillors must be able to apply their minds before making a decision.”
Botha, who has several years’ experience in planning, said there were sizeable tracts of land within the present urban edge of Klapmuts that could be developed.
The municipality’s spatial development framework guides development in the region to avert urban sprawl.
Botha said councillor JC Anthony (ANC), chairperson of the planning portfolio committee, proposed changes to the urban edge that would allow for residential development on the eastern side of Klapmuts near the R304.
“We have since found out the land includes the Anura Vineyards wine farm and that (BEE company) Havequa owns a share (of it),” Botha said.
Boesak is one of the directors of Havequa. Also on the board is Christine Kenned, wife of Ian Kenned, who is Stellenbosch’s acting mayor. He is also the chief financial officer.
But Anthony said the changes to the urban edge were approved by the then DA-led council in November “with no objections”. Anura, as the furthest farm on the eastern side, had been named as the border of the urban edge, Anthony said.
“At no stage did we entertain any individual plan or development.”
After the council shuffle, the new ANC-led mayoral committee approved the eastern border change. The council then approved the document.
Botha said: “Here is a development we have not seen. We have not seen a map of the border. It is vague.”
Anthony acknowledged that the plans given to councillors were incorrect, but said they had been part of a two-year consultation process.
If Anura submitted plans for development, they would be subject to the same processes as any other company.
But Botha said: “I am not against BEE, but I am for smart development in Klapmuts. It must be sustainable and not be urban sprawl. There is no reason for an exception in this case.”
Deputy mayor Cameron Mcaqo (ANC), who also sits on the planning committee, said if there was any irregularity, it would be addressed at the next council meeting.
ANC spokesperson Garth Strachan said: “The law is clear (about) the urban edge of towns. As in any other municipality, we must ensure due process is followed. If not, MEC (for Environment, Planning and Economic Development) Tasneem Essop would have to ensure it is.”
Essop signs off on the urban edge plans of all municipalities. Strachan said there would have to be “urgent intervention” if it was found the changes were irregular.