A formal complaint has been filed with the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality following the felling of the town’s pine plantations.
Lawyer Hilmar Kruger sent a letter to Municipal Manager Mandla Mnguni on Friday demanding action.

He said, “It is alleged that the removal of the trees was undertaken without lawful environmental authorisation, without public participation, and without transparency.
“Decisions were taken for the ulterior or private financial purpose; environmental governance obligations were ignored; and the community was excluded from decision-making affecting its alignment.”
Kruger said certain by-laws and planning legislation have been violated, as well as principles of lawful, reasonable, and procedurally fair administrative action.

He is requesting:

• An investigation into the ‘lawfulness of the decision to remove the trees’.
• A determination of whether maladministration, abuse of power, or improper conduct occurred.
• Identification of an insource or contractor responsible.
• Appropriate remedial action, including rehabilitation and accountability.
“I reserve all rights to pursue further legal remedies should this matter not be addressed adequately.”

Various councillors and residents were shocked

The letter follows a complaint filed by resident Petro Steenkamp with councillor Elsie Vermooten regarding the felling of the Dennesig plantation.
Various councillors and residents were shocked to learn that Dennesig councillor Johan Dyason gave the contractor, who illegally felled the trees in Dennesig, permission to remove the stumps worth thousands of rands.
“How can a councillor just give away property belonging to the town?”
Timber prices have skyrocketed recently.
This probably explains the relentless manner in which the town’s trees are being felled.

The contractor who cut down the pine plantation in Verdoorn Street, Nico Minnie, said he will start removing the stumps today.