Taxi rank notice causes uproar

Umtentweni residents are in an uproar over the proposed rezoning of a plot of land (Erf 560) from a public building (administration) to taxi rank in the area.

The property is located in Abingdon Road between Tweni Spar and the Tweni municipal library. In a recently published notice, residents with sufficient interest are urged to lodge written comments on the application to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) by no later than October 9.

There has been an outcry over the lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders, as well as environmental concerns as the residents regard Erf 560 as a sensitive area, already buzzing with traffic.

Residents further said there is no need for a taxi rank in the area.

Julie Solomon said that it seems as if the municipality or the developer is trying to sneak something through without the residents noticing. “If they have labelled it taxi rank and all the documents have taxi rank, it opens the door for them at a later stage to say it was approved for a taxi rank.”

According to Tricia Louw who has lived in the area for over 20 years, the centre’s parking lot has coped. “It had been previously extended and on most days it’s not utilised to its full capacity. It seems that there is an ulterior motive here. People will not walk so far from the new parking lot.”

People have aired their views on community groups on social media, and ward councillor, Leon Garbade has been questioned, too.

Garbade said he had been unaware of the application and only learned about it on the day it was published.
Residents called on the Port Shepstone Human Rights Centre (PSHRC), fearing the negative impact such a development will have on their properties.

Pastor Reggie John, chairperson of the PSHRC then tasked human rights activist, Selvan Chetty to investigate and engage with the municipality, as many questions remained unanswered.

Chetty, in consultation with the ward councillor, called on the community to object to the rezoning.
He said that they were aware that a groundswell of residents and ratepayers are unhappy with the rezoning as currently proposed and have responded to the call to object.

“We thank them for responding so quickly. Those who haven’t done so should object, citing reasons why they object so that the municipality can consider the concerns of the residents. I am aware that the developer, represented by a well-known town planner has put out a statement indicating that there will be no taxi rank and that they used the only available zoning category as contained in the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act guidelines, however our residents are not comfortable with a mere promise.”

Chetty added that the residents want the municipality to guarantee that a taxi rank will not be in that space.

“Also, they are not happy with a car wash in the same area, as not too long ago RNM stopped a car wash from operating at the Tweni Centre, formerly JTV Centre, some 200m down the road. The PSHRC is in the process of engaging with the municipality and while we work for a win-win situation, we will use whatever legal recourse at our disposal to stop the rezoning and development of a taxi rank in that area.”

Chief Operations Officer at Keal Property Group, Mark Keal said the full description of the proposed zoning was not appropriately detailed in the advertisement notice.

“The request was to limit the land use to that of a parking and a car wash. We have no intention to establish a taxi rank. The application documentation also specifies that the approval of the application will be conditional to the use of parking and a car wash only. It should be made clear that the application does not have any intention to establish a taxi rank on the land. The land will be used for additional parking for the Abingdon Kwikspar Centre.”
He said the centre management apologises to the residents for the confusion and for raising any unnecessary concerns.

“If any future landowner wished to establish a taxi rank on the land, they would have to lodge a new application with the municipality and the community would be granted the opportunity to raise their concerns and lodge objections to such an application,” said Keal.

RNM spokesperson Simon April was questioned as to why the property is being rezoned as a taxi rank as Keal had indicated that the notice was not detailed. “There’s an application for the proposed subdivision, consolidation, and rezoning, and Erf numbers are clearly stated. Those who wish to comment, support, or oppose are free to inspect the detailed application as stated in the advertisement.”

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