Shocking new face to Birdswood

FLYING in the face of assurances that all structures erected in the Mpunza Hill forest during the recent Shembe Church celebrations would be dismantled at the weekend, the erection of brick and mortar structures, among others, is fuelling Birdswood residents’ worst nightmares of a developing squatter camp on their doorstep.

Outraged by the spontaneous new township clearly busy developing across the road, homeowners are now desperately seeking an urgent court interdict to stop the 1.6-hectare plot from becoming a permanent settlement.

‘We are extremely concerned. Such a development will have a serious impact on the values of our properties,’ said Birdswood resident Annelize Jacobs.

‘I’m currently working on canvassing neighbours’ support to fight this issue with the backing of the court.’

Jacobs’ concerns are not unfounded according to Dormehl property agent Anita Coetzee.

‘Homeowners on Pelican Parade will have a particularly hard time selling their properties if the municipality does not act quickly to prevent an informal settlement from being established.

‘The suburb is upmarket, so they will definitely feel the impact.

Dropping prices

‘If the informal settlement stays, residents will have to look at dropping their prices significantly or take much longer to sell.

‘But there are other serious concerns about other detrimental effects this development will have on the neighbourhood,’ said Coetzee.

‘Crime is likely to escalate while the loads of rubbish dumped there poses a health threat.

‘It begs the question, will the people living there pay any rates and taxes or will the Birdswood’s ratepayers foot the bill for cleaning up the heaps of garbage?’

Countless makeshift structures have sprung up between 20 April and Friday during the month-long church commemoration attracting 10 000 worshippers to the grounds.

On Friday a senior church official gave the assurance that all structures would be taken down by the weekend.

Importance

The importance of retaining the integrity of the pristine Mpunza forest, was emphasised by the MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, Dr Meshack Radebe, during earlier negotiations with the church and municipal officials about protecting the eco-sensitive area during the church event.

‘We are not going to allow the destruction of forest as we are governed by environmental laws that we all have to adhere to,’ Radebe said at the meeting last month..

The City of uMhlathuze Municipality was approached for comment, but no response was received at the time of going to print.