Residents call for transparency on housing project
RIVONIA – RRRA has since started a petition calling for the City to help the residents understand the processes undertaken which materially affect the residents.
Members of the Rivonia Residents and Ratepayers Association (RRRA) are calling for transparency on the City’s latest social housing project in Rivonia.
The development set to take shape on the corner of 12th Avenue and Wessels Road, in conjunction with the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco), is projected to make over 1 000 affordable residential units available.
Previously reported in an article titled, Rivonia’s new project [Week ending 23 April], at the unveiling event on 14 April, Member of the Mayoral Committee Mlungisi Mabaso stated that the project was part of the City’s ‘turnkey projects’ which aims to advance the social housing programme.
Allegations of the City’s lack of communication and engagement with the surrounding residents in the area have since surfaced. According to the RRRA, the first time that the residents heard of the development was when a press statement for the unveiling was reported in the media.
Spokesperson for the RRRA Letlhogonolo Noge-Tungamirai said that while the residents are not opposed to affordable housing, they do believe that the process of selecting the site was ‘flawed’.
“Residents want the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 (Act 16 of 2013) applied to ensure that ‘the respective rights and obligations of all those affected’ are taken into consideration.
“We want to be consulted, engaged and briefed by Joshco, or the ward councillor, instead of being informed by the media.”
According to the RRRA and a number of expert opinions which it has retained to help the community better understand the matter, the only rezoning application applied and approved for such properties are for a five-storey development (excluding parking) with a maximum of 360 residential units.
“This is a far cry from the density and expected population numbers of Joshco’s plans for a ‘1077 social and affordable rental units’, and rezoning would be required to convert the site into the 10-storey housing development, estimated to accommodate roughly 5 000 people.”
RRRA has since started a petition calling for the City to help the residents understand the processes undertaken which materially affect the residents. The petition has to date (14 May) gained over 2 200 signatures.
The residents have noted that the concerns addressed in the rezoning related to the development plans have yet to be addressed by Joshco.
Joshco was approached for comment on three separate occasions, with confirmation of receipt, but no response was made available at the time of print.
“We need to understand what Joshco’s plans are to work with existing residents. Without that, rumours and gossip are being fuelled by Joshco’s apparent unwillingness or inability to talk directly to residents,” Noge-Tungamirai concluded.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/292891/social-housing-project-hits-the-ground-in-rivonia/
