RESIDENTS who are opposed to the Esselen Park housing development have approached AfriForum for sponsored legal aid.
As a result, residents are asked to make monetary donations to help fund the legal help.
The legal representation will help the Birchleigh and Birchleigh North communities prepare for an interdict planned against the metro’s planned housing development on the 172ha portion of the Witfontein farm area near Esselen Park.
The area is earmarked for middle-income housing in the current spatial development plan.
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Dr Stefan Hough, chairperson of Concerned Citizens of Birchleigh and Birchleigh North, said during discussions with residents about the development, it came to light that it was necessary to seek professional advice on the options they have.
“During the discussion it became evident that specialist environmentalists need to be contracted in order to professionally oppose Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality in its illogical approach towards township development and the poor preparation of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment),” Hough said.
“Our dilemma with the housing development in Esselen Park is the same challenges Bonaero Park, Pomona, Esther Park and other communities of Kempton have experienced, therefore, we can share advocates and environmentalists in our quest against these township developments.”
Hough highlighted the major concerns of residents, which include believing the metro does not have the capacity to protect fresh water resources.
“All the fresh water rivers in the Kempton Park area are already polluted and imagine the cost of potable water in the future,” Hough said.
“We feel these new developments will increase the burden on the already polluted fresh water rivers and what will it cost us to provide potable water if the massive decanting mine polluted water reach our rivers and streams?”
Other concerns are:
• Schools are already full to capacity and the police are complain of understaffing and lack of resources.
• Congested roads, like Elgin Road, the P91 and others will become worse and the quality of life of citizens of Kempton Park will decrease.
• The metro’s city planning and development department has received thousands of objections from residents against the planned development.
“These are the main reasons why we need to unite against the development, as well as the fact that the survival of ourselves and our kids are at stake here. We can skip this unwanted exercise today but it will come back and bite us and the lives of our kids,” Hough concluded.
Unfortunately, the professional aid does not come cheap and AfriForum will only sponsor them if sufficient funds are donated.
Donations can be made by SMS’ing KEMPTON PARK to 45342. Leaders in other affected areas in Kempton Park can communicate with Hough at stefan@ammd.co.za or call 011 972-1518, in order to discuss class actions.
