NOFTA faces a residential blockade

Disagreement over use of the NOFTA hall on Nightingale Street has intensified.

Despite information from inside sources stating the land has not yet been rezoned for use as a place of public gathering, residents have reported the organisation has continued hosting events at its service centre.

Now residents feel their situation is desperate.

Since the contentious issue of the NOFTA hall was reported on last June, Nightingale Street homeowners claim to have weathered a ‘storm’ of public urination, speeding cars, property damage, aggressive revellers and music until the wee hours.

However, NOFTA chairman, Rajesh Ramdaw stated these allegations were nonsense.

He said the issue of the rezoning of the land upon which the NOFTA service centre is built, was still awaiting a decision from Council, and that everything was being done above board.

Mr Ramdaw also rejected claims of functions continuing into the early morning hours.

“No, nonsense,” he exclaimed. “This is a conspiracy.”

The conspiracy referred to, is one brought to the fore by Mr Ramdaw previously, claiming there was a plot afoot to destroy NOFTA once and for all.

Residents, on the other hand, believe they are victim to cloak-and-dagger dealings.

Explaining the root of the problem, one resident said protests from those who live on Nightingale Street, were based around the conditions of a deed of donation negotiated between NOFTA and the Newcastle Municipality more than two decades ago.

The agreement was the land would be donated for a service centre for the elderly only.

In a letter sent from the Town Planning department in November of 2012, documented by this newspaper, until the application for special consent (to host public gatherings) was finalised, hiring out the NOFTA hall was considered an illegal activity.

“We wish to warn you to stop hiring the hall with immediate effect until your application is finalised, as this may have negative implications on your application,” it read.

Failure to comply would result in prosecution in terms of the KZN Planning and Development Act No. 6 of 2008, the letter concluded.

More letters and notices have been issued by the municipality a number of times since, and residents say ‘hollow threats’ from authorities have proven the legal route has failed them.

“The petition has not helped us and the town’s by-laws are being utterly flouted.”

Residents are at the end of their tether, angrily accusing NOFTA management of influencing action against the organisation and sowing lies.

“It is not a civic hall, after all.”

A series of questions posed to senior municipal officials regarding the legality of NOFTA-hosted functions and the validity of residents’ concerns went unanswered at the time of going to print this week.

Last year, Mr Ramdaw said functions would continue regardless of permission granted.

Citing costs to run the organisation were in the region of R20 000 monthly, he said the sustenance of NOFTA and support of the elderly outweighed any outstanding rezoning authority.

Inside sources disagreed, slating the actions of NOFTA as simply illegal.