Ward 132 church plans hit roadblocks from city entities
Traffic, water, and environmental concerns are slowing down the church application in Ward 132. Councillor Annette Deppe explains what this means for the community.
Plans to establish a church on the old Hugo’s Place property have hit several procedural roadblocks, with key municipal departments raising concerns that must be addressed before the project can move forward.
Councillor Annette Deppe, who represents Ward 132, has provided a detailed update to residents, outlining the status of the application and the reasons behind the delay.
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“The consent use application for a place of worship at Portion 101, Bothasfontein 408-JR is currently under review,” Deppe confirmed.
“The application, submitted by Mamphele Development Planners CC with reference number 20/07/0557/2025, is pending comments from several municipal entities.”
According to Deppe, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has specifically requested that a comprehensive Traffic Impact Study (TIS) be conducted.
She said this study will assess how the proposed place of worship could affect traffic flow in the surrounding area, particularly given the proximity to residential neighbourhoods and already congested roads.
“Until the results of that study are submitted and reviewed, no further movement on the application can occur from the JRA’s side,” she added.
She said in addition to the traffic concerns, Johannesburg Water has placed the application on hold due to infrastructure limitations.
“The water utility has placed the application on hold until the completion of the reservoir, expected by December 2027,” said Deppe.
The delayed timeline for the reservoir project means that any developments requiring water services in the area, including this proposed church, will face similar delays.
Environmental considerations have also contributed to the holdup. Deppe explained that the Environmental and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) has raised issues relating to flood lines on the property.
“The Environmental and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) has asked the applicant to address comments related to flood lines, which has delayed progress at this time.”
She acknowledged the community’s ongoing interest in the application and expressed her commitment to transparent communication.
“We appreciate your patience as these important evaluations and requirements are addressed. I am committed to keeping you informed of any further developments.”
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