President Park AGM reports low crime, says blow whistle on illegal land use
MIDRAND - President Park Residents' Association (PPRA) told residents from President Park, Austin View and Glen Austin Ext 3, who gathered at Lory Park Zoo for the Annual General Meeting, to report illegal land use.
According to the association, a lot of property owners in the area end up using the land for non-agricultural businesses without following due processes to rezone or get permission for special use of the land. Chairperson of the association, John Gainsford, also emphasised that illegal churches on agricultural holdings will be reported. Gainsford said, “There is a half-built church in President Park that has been stopped and another illegal church was reported to the City of Johannesburg in 2014 and legal processes are in place.”
Nominations for a new committee were made and the association is appealing for a pro bono lawyer to assist with registering the residents association as a non-profit organisation and is also seeking a donation for Block Watch jackets.
“We are also working towards standardising property numbers to make it easier for Block Watch and emergency services to easily find properties, as there is a confusion between the plot and street numbers for the properties,” he said.
Residents were told that crime was reportedly low in December 2014 and January last year. Problem crimes in the area include cable theft, housebreakings and robberies.
Residents want to have thoroughfare closures to keep out a growing number of taxis and large vehicles that use the roads which are not wide enough for them.
The chairperson also mentioned that he will relocate with his family to New Zealand in May and thanked the association and community for their support in dealing with community-related issues.
Do you live in President Park? What issue would you like the community to be aware of? Share your thoughts on @MidrandReporter
