Amidst the proposed Birchleigh housing development projects, objections from residents and illegal land invasions, there is just one question to be asked: what will become of the empty space in Birchleigh?
Birchleigh residents held a meeting on April 11 at the NG Church Birchleigh to discuss the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s (EMM) plans to develop mixed housing in the open land north of Birchleigh Extension 1 and Birchleigh North Extension 4, next to Esselen Park.
Ironically, this meeting was held the day before violent clashes between illegal land invaders and the Red Ants, where six land-grabbers were injured, in Esselen Park.
A ward councillor’s home was also vandalised in the Madelukufa Informal Settlement in Tembisa.
The clashes were the result of land grabs, of the same land earmarked for development, by people coming from Tembisa.
During the meeting the day before, 5 104 objection forms were signed. According to the chairman of the Birchleigh Ratepayer’s Association, Dr Stefan Hough who was also the facilitator of the meeting, he did not know how many residents would show up. He only printed 130 copies.
“The inert strength of the community took over and on D-date, 5 104 objections were delivered to the EMM’s city planning department with official proof of acceptance,” said Hough.
“The objections were handed over on April 14 and 15, 28 days after the EMM erected a notice board informing the public of its intended Birchleigh North Extension 4 housing development.”
The next step for the residents is to wait for the EMM’s appointed consultants, Terraplan Associates, a national town and planning practice, to contact and consult with every objector in order to understand the reasons behind their objections.
“We were also warned by some councillors that we need to prepare for a tribunal hearing, and therefore need legal representatives, so we have negotiated with AfriForum for legal representation,” said Hough.
