Atholl residents concerned about possible construction of mosque
ATHOLL - TOWN planner Zaid Cassim has denied that a mosque will be built on a site in Ayr Avenue despite there being an application for rezoning of the property.
This follows concern by the Atholl Area Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association that a mosque might be constructed after an application was filed to rezone the land from residential to institutional.
Cassim confirmed that a rezoning application had been submitted on 13 May and they would wait for approval before any building was done.
Chairperson of the association, Sotero Capazorio said there were no other places of worship or any other institutional buildings in the area, and that Atholl residents unanimously objected to any such development.
Capazorio said the association was greatly concerned due to the lack of transparency from the owner of the property. The owner declined to be named.
Ward 91 councillor Andrew Stewart said the portion of Atholl where the property was situated was strictly zoned as residential. He added that the building of churches or other places of worship without adequate rezoning rights was a regular occurrence in Johannesburg.
Stewart said, “This happens often enough to become an issue. Many contractors build a place of worship and apply for rezoning after it has been built, hoping that the council will approve because it’s already there. But this is a special case for Sandton.”
Capazorio said the owner of the property had re-paved the driveway, demolished the garage of the existing house and added a storm water drain on property that belongs to the city council.
Regarding the re-paving of the driveway, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Roads Agency Bertha Peter-Scheepers said, “An inspection will be undertaken to determine whether the construction which has been undertaken within the road reserve contravenes any bylaws and advise on the outcome thereof.”
Cassim responded that the pavement in front of the property belonged to the owner and it was done to neaten up the cul-de-sac.
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