THE eThekwini Municipality said it has received ‘approximately 500 objections’ to a proposed ‘bingo hall’ in uMhlanga.

The proposed site for the place of entertainment is a property on Lagoon Drive just metres away from the Beverly Hills Hotel.

According to the City, the proposal includes a plan for up to 150 electronic bingo machines, which the residents and Ward 35 councillor Bradley Singh stand opposed to.

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While the public participation process of the proposed project closed on September 15, the objections are being reviewed, confirmed the City.

One of the residents standing against the development is Sandy Papale, who said her major concern is the youth.

“A major concern has always been that the precedent of allowing a special consent proposal like this to continue will promote underage gambling, both physically and online, increased alcohol and drug use amongst the youth, particularly the staff that so faithfully serve in restaurants and bars around uMhlanga. The pattern of how this is all unfolding is all too familiar and as citizens and rate-paying members we are demanding a public response from the municipality and the Gambling Board and a quelling of rumours that this proposal is being railroaded through the process,” she said.

While the City did not respond to allegations that residents’ objections were being railroaded, it said objections are being reviewed.

“There is a special consent application in the system for a Place of Entertainment in a property zoned Commercial Office, with the proposed installation of up to 150 electronic bingo machines. The application has gone through the public participation process, the closing date for submissions was on September 15,” explained eThekwini Municipality’s marketing and communications director Mandla Nsele.

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“The City has received approximately 500 objections, primarily in the form of petitions. These submissions are currently under verification to determine their validity. The City will need to provide the applicant with the right to respond. After the objections and responses have been reviewed and the necessary checks have been completed, the application will be submitted to the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) for a recommendation.”

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