‘Illegal’ Waterkloof helipad not flying with residents
“For many years, a developer, Twin City owned and run by the Arnold Pistorius, Oscar’s uncle has wanted a pad there for years and Waterkloof residents association objected to it and it was never done.”
Tshwane metro plans to issue a contravention notice over an “illegal” helicopter pad in Waterkloof owned by Twin City, a development company run by Arnold Pistorius.
Regional and town planning MMC Ridge Petersen told Rekord that according to preliminary investigations, there was no application for the helicopter pad, “which means it is illegal”.
Residents raised concern over the pad, saying no public participation process was undertaken prior to construction.
“They were supposed to submit a formal rezoning application to the city. The application would have been advertised for community participation.
“According to the investigation, there was no application at all which means it is illegal,” Petersen said.
He said given that the development was “illegal”, a contravention notice would be issued and after 21 days, the city could approach the high court for an order.
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A concerned resident, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said objections over the helicopter pad went back over a decade, saying that the Waterkloof residents’ association had objected to the helicopter pad on many occasions.
“For many years, a developer, Twin City owned and run by Arnold Pistorius, has wanted a pad there and Waterkloof home owners’ association objected to it and it was never done.
“All of a sudden about six weeks ago we just saw this helicopter pad there, literally overnight.”
He said he spoke to the school which currently holds the lease to the land and “they confirmed they were in the dark as to who had approved it”.
Pistorius is jailed athlete Oscar Pistorius’ uncle.
Principal of the school Charlotte Monyai declined to comment to Rekord and directed all questions to the metro, the owners of the land on which the helicopter pad was erected.
The concerned resident said: “Over the years, the concern was we don’t want a private helicopter pad in our suburb, over and above that the potential dangers it brings is that it is next to a school and sports ground.
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“It also brings added noise. How regular are the flights going to be and what at times of the day and night are they going to be landing?
“If it happens here where else is this happening… people just do what they like without following the proper procedures and involving the residents,” he said.
“I went through several departments and no one knows. We just keep getting referred to different departments but no answers.
“One minute it’s a helipad, what’s next? A hotel? Sports centre? People seem to just do what they like and they deal with the legal issues afterwards and big money gets thrown at it afterwards,” the resident said.
Ward councillor in the area Philip Nel told Rekord said he was in the dark with regards to the matter.
“It is partly true and I myself also don’t have an answer, I was not consulted at all.
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“I have not been able to establish that the metro has given permission for this helipad to be constructed. I can categorically say I have not been able to identify any department in the municipality that gave permission for the pad to be erected there,” said Nel.
Owner of Twin City Arnold Pistorius said he was not aware that an application was not made to the metro. As far he knew all approvals had been obtained prior to erection.
He said this was due to the fact that the applications were handled by a pilot contracted to apply for the helipad on behalf of Twin City.
Pistorius said they had tried to get in touch with the school to discuss the matter.
He said the helipad was a “community investment”.
“It’s for the community. All over Sandton and Johannesburg there are helipads. People need to evacuate urgently sometimes, people get heart attacks and it helps in that sense.
“If they don’t want it we will take it away. As far as I know all the applications have been done,” said Pistorius,
He said he would investigate if all the approvals had been obtained and if there was no application done to obtain approval, this would be done to avoid falling foul of the law.
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