A desperate plea for funding causes unrest in community
"This is not personal at all but a matter of accountability by Gateway for their role in the community," said Tasia Alves.
Residents of Fever Tree Estate lodged complaints against the recent addition of billboard advertisements on Gateway Village’s property facing the Estate’s entrance. The residents called the board an eyesore and one member said in a message to the Fever Tree Estate Homeowners’ Association that it “… fundamentally alters the aesthetics of our shared space”.
The Gateway Village informed the Northsider that they were aware of the complaints. They said they did not mean to upset anyone, but the billboards were a means of raising funds for the non-profit organisation.
Melissa Green, General Manager at The Gateway Village explained their position.
“Due to the location of the village, we are approached all the time to allow advertising space for billboards. Early last year a donor made us an offer for the space to which our late chairman Frank Enslin agreed. Obviously, it is a passive income for the village and as an NGO, we always need funding as we are not fully funded or subsidised by the Department of Social Development,” Green explained, adding that they were responsible for raising funds to cover the operational costs of the village and for taking care of, as they refer to them, their ‘forever kids’.
“As an NGO we’re very reliant on donations and outside funding to do what we do. Like everybody else we as a business and NGO were affected because of Covid. A lot of the funding stopped, and parents were affected financially so they were not able to take care of the children to the extent they normally would. Even pre-Covid the village has had 11 of what we refer to as ‘welfare residents’. We are completely responsible for them as nobody is paying for them because they don’t have a family. We pay for their accommodation, food, medical expenses, and clothing. We would never ever put them in another facility or kick them out.”
Green said they agreed to have the boards put up during the pandemic because they were looking for additional funding.
“I wish that the people who were raising their concerns had known the heart of what we do. There was no malicious intent whatsoever when those boards were signed off and we never thought that the residents were going to get upset about it. I’m happy to have them come and see the reality of what we deal with. The City of Johannesburg was here last week; because of one person’s complaint, all of the income from the advertising boards is now being taken away. All of my boards have to come down, even the ones that have been there for the last 10 years. We have till this Friday to take them all down.”
Green said according to the notice of contravention from CoJ they’d take legal action against Gateway if they didn’t remove the boards. “We don’t have the funds for legal action. So if we don’t get approval before then, the billboards will have to come down. We really need that income.”
They were planning on submitting the application for approval as soon as possible.
Martin van der Westhuizen, Head of the Homeowners’ Association at Fever Tree Estate responded:
“We cannot comprehend that Gateway feel that they do not have to adhere to by-laws in the same manner as other residents; destruction of property, etc. This is extremely concerning. One wonders what other laws they are breaking and yet we entrust them with donations and looking after people.
“For the record, we have opened the door for discussions with Melissa but she was unwilling to engage. Residents of Fever Tree Estate are supporting charities and our focus is now on Tower of Life Men’s Shelter. Illegal advertising structures have been reported on various occasions and Gateway is not a target – we look after our area and even did a cleanup of the Gateway grounds on Peter Road which they have neglected,” Martin replied to the email from Shane Shaw, who assisted in securing the passive income for Gateway Village. He also stated that concerns were addressed by the council as and when reported. “Fever Tree Estate cannot be the only gatekeeper.”
Shane commented:
“I am speechless at this whole saga. Gateway is a non-profit organisation. They have been struggling for years and receive barely any support from the community. They have had boards on the property for 20 plus years. Now that they have found a way to get sponsors and an income that could help the Gateway Village with food, medicine, doctors and so forth you simply wish for them to lose out and suffer.
“As for accusing Gateway of mismanagement of funds and so forth, I would be careful before making accusations you have no proof of. Melissa and the rest of the Gateway Village Staff go above and beyond for their pupils. They do everything in their power to help them. Even if a person is abandoned at the gate they will take in the pupil and care as well as provide for them – no questions asked. Their hearts are in the right place and there is not a bad bone in any of them. You should not be targeting a harmless NPO.”
City of Johannesburg representative, Thembinkosi Mvelase gave the Northsider the following information:
An Outdoor Advertising Contravention Notice was issued to Gateway Village for the Advertising Signs on Thursday, July 28 and they have confirmed receipt of the notice, which expired on Monday, August 8. “I did indicate to them that the other signs on the property needed to be removed as well as they did not comply with the Outdoor Advertising By-Law of the City,” stated Mvelase.
The Outdoor Advertising By-law for the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality as approved by its Council states:
In terms of the City of Johannesburg Outdoor Advertising By-Law, 2022, in considering an application submitted in terms of section 4, the Outdoor Advertising Steering Committee must have due regard to the following:
(1)(a) The compatibility of the proposed advertising sign with the environment and with the amenity of the immediate neighbourhood, urban design and streetscape; (b) Whether the proposed advertising sign will – (i) have a negative visual impact on any property or a property zoned or used for residential purposes under any applicable town-planning or land use scheme; or (ii) constitute a danger to any person or property or to motorists or pedestrians or obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic or constitute a traffic hazard in general; (iii) in any way impair the visibility of any road traffic sign; (iv) obscure any existing and legally erected advertising sign; (v) obscure any feature which in the opinion of the City is a natural feature, architectural feature or visual line of civic, architectural, historical or heritage significance; or (vi) in the City’s opinion, be unsightly or objectionable or detrimentally impact on the architectural design of any building on the property concerned or any adjacent or nearby property.
At the time of going to print Gateway Village had taken down the advertising boards on their property and was in the process of applying for approval from the City.
What would be your solution to this problem? The Northsider would like to hear from the community, so write a letter to us at northside@caxton.co.za.
Read more: The Gateway Village celebrates 50 years of existence but needs help to secure 50 more
