HERMANUS – Die Overstrand se nuwe burgemeester, Dr Annelie Rabie het vanmiddag hier tydens ‘n raadsvergadering gesê gerugte wat versprei word dat die munisipaliteit sekere groepe wil uitsluit uit die beplanning rondom die Schulphoek ontwikkeling en beplan om die gebied in gedienste erwe te omskep, is kwaadwillig en vals. Die gerugte spruit klaarblyklik uit ‘n agenda item vir die burgemeesterskomitee wat vanoggend (Maandag) byeen was. Dit het glo veral die mense van Sandbaai warm onder die kraag gehad en die burgemeester moes glo bontstaan met die e-posse en whatsapps. Volgens die agendapunt was die aanbeveling aan die raad dat die bestaande sg. sosiale kompak of ooreenkoms t.o.v die Schulphoek projek met onmiddelike effek geskrap word; dat die Schulphoek projek voortaan net voorsiening maak vir begunstigdes uit sekere wyke nl wyke 4,5,6 en 12 en dat daar op ‘n nuwe sosiale kompak ooreengekom word wat net voorsiening maak vir begunstigdes in wyke 4,5,6 en 12 wat op die munisipale databasis geregistreer is. Dr Rabie het by die vergadering gesê die gerugte wat versprei word is kwaadwillig: “I want to state (it) categorically that to my knowledge there has never been any formal decision by Council on the type and kind of project that should be developed in Schulphoek. I am aware that there is support for the so-called mixed use housing methodology and some councilors may even have given their support publicly for this, but it remains a fact that there is no formal council resolution supporting this or in fact any type of development methodology in Schulphoek. This is a fact.” “In term of beneficiaries, I find the number of e-mails and what’s apps with objections rather disconcerting as it is completely devoid of all truth and can be regarded as fake news, spread with the, in my view, malicious intent to evoke emotions unnecessarily. I agreed to changing the initial recommendation on the reconstitution of the Social Compact after a discussion I had with Advocate Edmund Wessels, who reminded me that there may be residents currently staying in Ward 7 that are on the waiting list and could probably qualify for a housing opportunity in Schulphoek. After I consulted with the ward councilor, Ms Lombard, she believed this is not the case, but she will check this against the waiting list. However, there was unanimous agreement amongst my colleagues on the Mayoral Committee that Ward 7 should be represented on the Social Compact.” “I can further confirm that following today’s Council meeting a further meeting will be held to re-assess the purpose and guidelines for a social compact which will be presented to Council for consideration. It should be noted that at present none of the minutes of the current social compact served before a council meeting as far as it can be ascertained.” “My Council and I are fully aware of the detrimental impact of the delay in getting the project kickstarted specifically how it impacts on interested and affected parties property values in current estates such as Beach Club and any future developments adjacent to the Schulphoek area. There is also an awareness of the unsafe practice by children to use the road as a playground and the number of noise complaints from adjacent neighbours. It is my view that we can find solutions to all these matters only if we work together with all the stakeholders which will not be the case if we continue the current trajectory.” “Coming to the plan of action that was drafted to kickstart this project. The Department of Human Settlements (DoHS) needs to sign the Land Availability Agreement (LAA) to take control of the site as they are not allowed take possession. Once the LAA is signed DoHS can continue with the planning for the development of the site and Overstrand Municipality will have no further role in this except for the approval of land use planning applications as it has already been announced that it would be a provincial priority project. I can give you the assurance that Council will do anything within its legislative powers to fast-track any applications should they be received. We are also aware of development proposals and plans already drafted. As soon as the LAA is signed and the DoHS enters the fray, these will be addressed by the technical committee. I can also confirm that nowhere in the documentation that served before Council today, any mention is made of the abolishment of the mixed-use development or that only serviced erven are considered. This is simply untrue. However, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Municipality to provide basic services to all its citizens and while we are waiting for the Schulphoek project to take shape I need to make sure that we give effect to this constitutional requirement. Hence, I will also be considering the temporary movement of the current housing units that are informally placed and where there are no services to serviced sites while we upgrade and service sites incrementally.” “At my inauguration I stated that the Schulphoek project would be a project in my office as I want to make sure that I have a firm grip on the planning and subsequent monitoring and evaluation of progress. To do this, I must ensure that the project finds space within councils IDP and future budgets. Great was my surprise when we confirmed ourselves that no item served before council, and I am requesting the broader community of Overstrand not to jump to any conclusions and spread fake news and to rather ask for the facts. Henceforth these facts can be obtained from the ward councillor who will share it through the ward committee with the community.” “It is correct that there is political instability brewing around the non-performance of both Overstrand Municipality and DoHS. Whether these perceptions are true or false, I cannot allow that it influence service delivery within these wards.” Die burgemeester se verklaring volg kort op die hakke van verskeie interessante verwikkelinge rondom behuising in die Overstrand. Die direkteur van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, mnr Roderick Williams is onlangs tydelik op verlof geplaas terwyl ‘n ondersoek geloods word. Dit volg op ‘n klagte deur die Whale Coast Business and Community Forum se Barry van Vuren. Dit klagte gaan in wese oor Williams se hantering van die Schulphoek ontwikkeling. Intussen het die Overstrand se behuisingsbestuurder, mnr Frankie Franks ook glo die afgelope week bedank. Die staatspresident, mnr Cyril Ramphosa het kort na verlede jaar se verkiesing aangekondig dat die Spesiale Ondersoek Eenheid (SIU) beweerde ongerymdhede by die Overstrand munisipaliteit se behuisingsafdeling gaan ondersoek. Dit het gevolg na daar blykbaar ‘n interne verslag oor probleme en moontlike korrupsie gesirkuleer het. Dié verslag, deur een van die munisipaliteit se interne ouditeure, is nog nooit bekend gemaak nie. Dit is wel genoem en bespreek tydens 'n nasionale nuusuitsending en debat op televisie. Na die beste van ons wete het daar ook nog niks van die Spesiale Ondersoek Eenheid se ondersoek gekom nie.
