Complexity of case has already required four days of hearings
Since our last newsletter in March, two more meetings of the Tribunal were held (April and May) to decide the rezoning on Erven 1098 – 1104.
May hearing
At the May hearing, ‘we at last had “our day in court”’ says Gemey Abrahams, who holds ERA’s town planning portfolio.
Abrahams presented what ERA chair, Ayanda Mjekula, described as a ‘spirited and erudite presentation’ that was ‘emotional but highly professional’.
She took the Tribunal through her 13-page submission which detailed the complex history of the proposed development since 2014 including the submission of 2479 residents’ objections to the development.
Some residents braved the less than ideal conditions at the venue and presented in person and made passionate and clear pleas to the Tribunal explaining how the development will detrimentally affect them.
Greenside Residents Association chair, Judith Ancer, outlined how the proposed development would have a negative impact on the Greenside commercial and retail sector.
Other objectors sent in additional submissions that were read out to the Tribunal.
July hearing
The final day of hearing is scheduled in early July where our lawyers will complete all the legal arguments in support of our objection and the applicants’ advocate and legal team will close with their reasons for supporting the development.
ERA and GRA will keep residents informed and provide feedback after the last day of hearing.
The Tribunal will then adjourn. It must consider all these inputs, along with the 2 479 submission made in November 2015, look at both sides, weigh up the facts and come to a decision, most likely later in July.
Cost
Taking part in the Tribunal entails huge costs. The cost of our lawyers and experts has climbed to almost R320 000 despite many experts offering us significant discounts on their services and several offering their services for free. ERA is very grateful for the excellent service they have given us.
A huge thanks to Emmarentia and Greenside residents who have generously donated almost R121 000.
So far the shortfall is being covered by ERA’s and GRA’s reserves which are fast becoming depleted. With no reserves, ERA and GRA will not able to be pro-active and act on other burning issues facing all of us in our suburb.
Appeal
We appeal to Emmarentia residents to either donate to ERA for the costs of the Tribunal, or, if you are not already an ERA member, to join us.
Special discounts available for a 2-year membership: R500 for 2021/22 and 2022/23. Rates for pensioners (R200 per annum) and businesses (R950 per annum) remain unchanged.
Banking details:
Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765. E-mail POP to:
treasurer@era.org.za (Reference: surname and telephone number) together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form here:
In the past few months, two houses in the neighbouring suburbs of Linden and Parkview have been gutted by fire. Here are tips from Michael O’ Donovan, Ward 88 Committee:
Check your chimney before lighting the first fire of winter. (It’s suspected that the Linden fire was caused by a roof truss close to the chimney that caught alight. The house was destroyed in 20 minutes)
Do you have a fire extinguisher and does it work?
Do you know where your closest fire hydrant is (that works)?
Join your neighbourhood watch group and equip them with extinguishers, bolt cutters, fire axes etc.
Meanwhile Felicity Gratz-Lawlor reports that ex-Roosevelt Park Fire Chief will be running basic fire training. Connect here to find out more:
ERA recently organised for a clean of the Geldenhuys cemetery with the help of funds from the Geldenhuys family. Invasive alien plants like lantana, mulberries, privets, bugweeds were removed from inside and outside the cemetery so they don’t spread their seeds into your gardens.
When spring comes there’ll be more weeding to make sure that they don’t return. The cyprus trees that were planted when the cemetery was first established have been left untouched.
ERA is currently applying for a heritage plaque for the site and we hope to put up information boards and open the cemetery to visitors at a later stage.
Any ideas from residents on what to do with the space are most welcome or join our history sub-committee.
· Greenhill Shops and carguards
The majority of the shopkeepers attended the March meeting coordinated by ERA with SAPS/CPF Parkview, CAP and Felicity from Let’s Work. The meeting discussed how to increase security in the shopping district.
Since then CAP has submitted two proposals – one that envisages CAP stepping up policing of the shopping strip and the other that relies on carguards working with CAP.
ERA will meet again with CAP and a representative of the shopowners on May 28 to understand the carguard proposal in more detail. Our other security project is to meet with Checkers. More in the next newsletter.
· Controlling invasives in Emmarentia Park
ERA has been concerned by the rapid spreading of the water hyacinth in the top dam in Emmarentia which is threatening to cover the entire dam.
According to City Parks, they are working with researchers at Rhodes University who are currently testing biological control of the weed.
We had hoped that the rehabilitation of the top two dams, including removal of all the invasive aliens, would start in the new financial year however Covid seems to have delayed the envisaged plan.
City Parks is also keeping an eye on the parrot feather (another invasive from South America) in the top dam and has introduced more beetles (with researchers monitoring) to biologically control the invasive.
Its team also successfully removed a very big patch of the invasive weed close to the entrance at Louw Geldenhuys. We will keep you posted.
ERA has a small environmental sub-committee that always welcomes new members – e-mail info@era.org.za
· Beware in green spaces
The top end of Emmarentia park on the corner of Beyers Naude and Judith Road and near the scout hall below the dam wall seem to be two favourite spots for muggers.
Be careful – even when walkers were walking without cellphones and with 6 dogs, muggers, armed with knives/pistols, took rings and other jewellery. The worst times seem to be early in the morning and very late afternoon.
There is now a Ward 88 walk group. Meet at 4.30pm every afternoon in one of the suburbs covered by the Ward. Anyone can join the walk and at your own pace.
· Help those over 60 to register for Covid-19 vaccine
Register on the COVID Whatsapp number by sending “REGISTER” to 0600123456.
Register by SMS by dialling *134*832*your ID number#.
If you don’t have an ID number just dial *134*832#.
The services are zero rated and so you do not need data or airtime.
You do not need a smartphone to be able to register by SMS.
If you encounter any issues whilst registering, you can call the COVID-19 hotline 0800 029 999.
Please help your helpers/gardeners who may be over 60 to get registered and vaccinated. Keep phoning Parkhurst Clinic (free) and Medicare Greenhill to find out when they will start vaccinating.
City News
* Debt relief to ratepayers suffering because of Covid-19
If you are a ratepayer and your municipal account is in arrears of more than 90 days as at 31 December 2020, you may be eligible for debt relief, available for a limited period only – cut off date31 July.
The programme has recently been extended to benefit small businesses, places of worship and non-profit organizations with a gross revenue annual income of not more than R3 million.
ERA makes great strides in getting infrastructure fixed
Many thanks to those that heeded our call and have helped us to report water leaks, failure by JRA to reinstate etc. Please keep doing it to ensure that we receive the services that we pay for.
JRA
Frustrated with the failure of JRA to do reinstatements despite ERA’s, the ward committee’s and the councillor’s persistent requests, ERA finally submitted a letter to the ombud, setting out which reinstatements had not been done.
The ombud gave JRA 14 days to reinstate. This deadline expired on May 24 and as at that date, some had been completed: Louw Geldenhuys (2), Muirfield, Umtata.
But then another problem arose: they’d fixed the road but left all the rubble on the pavement. As this newsletter went to print, the councillor was putting pressure on JRA to remove the rubble so that pedestrians can walk safely on the pavement.
We will continue to put pressure on JRA to reinstate the remaining ones on Kei and upper Komatie.
Meanwhile JRA has filled in many reported potholes and has made a 4-way stop that was urgently needed on Komatie/Muirfield.
We are crossing fingers that in the new financial year that begins on 1 July 2021, 7590m of water pipes in Emmarentia will be replaced as per Joburg Water’s undertaking to us.
The transformer in the mini sub on Hill Road, corner Mazoe is still ‘running hot’ reports ERA’s infrastructure man, Arno Steinmuller. However, Arno reports that he’s had ‘a 100% success rate’ on other matters like ‘streetlights out’. ‘As long as they are not capital items’ like the transformer, they seem to get fixed, he says. However, much of the electricity infrastructure in the suburb is old and needs replacing and with load-shedding likely to increase as we head into winter, more old cables are likely to fail.
Felicity Gratz-Lawlor advises residents that when reporting outages ‘only log 1 call per house; if you log a second one you will be put to the bottom of the queue and if you log a third time, they cancel you.’
Please keep submitting streetlight problems, outages etc. on citypower.mobi
And if you’d like to take a more active role in monitoring the suburb’s infrastructure, let us know. We have a small group of people supporting Arno Steinmuller in this busy role.
Knowing our neighbours
There is one upside of infrastructure collapse and threats to our security: we are all finding out who our neighbours are, even if it’s virtually through whatsapp groups rather than talking through the fence. When some residents don’t have water or electricity, or there’s been a robbery, ‘knowing our neighbours have our backs is so important because this does not happen in every suburb’, one resident remarked on a whatsapp group recently.
Thanks to Let’s Work for their hard work in our suburb
Due to generous donations from residents, Let’s Work managed to complete the gum pole project on the eastern bank of the dam without ERA’s donation. Many thanks to Let’s Work, Jonte, the tree feller who supervised the Let’s Work Team, Orejen who donated the gum poles, and other residents who donated the cement. Since the gum poles have been erected, ‘no fishermen have parked by the side of dam,’ says Felicity Gratz-Lawlor.
Please can residents try and keep their verges mown and gutters clear of grass so that stormwater can flow freely. If you can’t manage to do this, please contact Felicty Gratz-Lawlor at Let’s Work on 082 568 1783 and donate to Leet’s Work so that her team can do it for you.
Please keep donating to Let’s Work so her team can continue to cut firebreaks, clean the public toilets and the many other projects that they do in public spaces to benefit Emmarentia and Ward 88.
Are you concerned about your safety, decaying and vandalised infrastructure, that the City may not be using your rates correctly? ERA will hold a virtual AGM on Wednesday 9 June 2021 at 18h30.
Share your concerns with us and your ideas to make our suburb better.
Come and help us develop a plan of action for the next year.
‘People may not understand the value of a residents association until you are part of it. And then you see how much work is done to protect and improve the suburb.’Judith Ancer, chairperson of the Greenside Residents Association
If you can’t make the zoom meeting, e-mail us your ideas to info@era.org.za before the meeting so we can raise them there.
Find reports of what we’ve done over the last year on
Do you have two or more hours a month to give to ERA to help serve residents better? These are the areas where we are looking for volunteers. You are welcome to suggest other burning issues/areas that you are prepared to work on:
Infrastructure: help to report and monitor water/sewerage leaks, streetlights out, potholes etc; monitor mini-subs
Security: help us to keep our suburb safe
Admin/Secretary: attend virtual monthly Exco meetings (about 2 hours) and write up minutes
Website: upload newsletter and other important information to website
PR: anyone able to help us with PR?
Fund-raising: need fresh ideas, big or small of how to raise funds for specific projects
Building and planning: help to monitor land use, building renovations etc.
Green spaces and events: help us plan events to bring residents together and help to monitor and control outside events in the suburb (once Covid is under control)
Environment: help us work with City Parks to keep the park how we want it and other environmental issues
History: join the team that is starting to interview residents of Emmarentia to find out their history in the suburb: what they remember of the suburb when they first got here, how it’s changed, why they moved here etc. Help decide what to do with all the stories we collect. The team is also identifying heritage sites within the suburb and may begin to think of heritage tours.
Come and hear Judith Ancer, Greenside Residents Association chairperson and psychologist talk about: The health benefits of active engagement in your community – a psychologist’s perspective
Normally the religious holidays coming up are a time to get together with family or friends or to share the special time with others in big and small gatherings.
Unfortunately Covid-19 is still with us and will be for some time.
Let’s all lower the third wave together. Let’s just keep doing what we have to do to stay safe from the virus so that we can all be here again next year.
Stay safe.
Tackling the problems, one at a time
Emmarentia’s active WhatsApp groups are a good gauge of residents’ true feelings. Recently there was a lively debate about the litany of woes that we are faced with: potholes, loadshedding, water outages, petty theft, people sleeping on pavements, litter strewn across pavements, illegal dumping, verges unmown, a City that is short of money.
Residents bemoaned a city that doesn’t listen to residents’ concerns, power surges and outages that were playing havoc with freezer contents and appliances, while another described the uphill battle of keeping her corner clean. ‘I remove 200 illegal posters from my corner weekly. I have removed more PENIS ENLARGEMENT and Lost LOVER posters stuck onto our robots with superglue than I care to remember.
I clean up a urine soiled BUS STOP with a dustbin overflowing every single day or my cupboards and clothing would stink of urine … take a drive through Kensington and have a look at their corners – ours are not far off.’
The same resident put a challenge to ERA and to all of us who live in the suburb: ‘Want to volunteer a day or two ERA? Or ask residents to clean up just outside their own homes? While asking … ask them to stop dumping their garden garbage on corners … so much one could do to make our OWN space so much better if we all worked collectively as a neighbourhood.
Another resident took up this challenge without being asked. Unhappy with the state of the weeds on the path crossing the dam, he arrived with his garden shears, a rake and a bag and proceeded to clear the path of weeds and undergrowth – thank you Faizel, you’ve shown us the way.
Get involved. Join ERA. Help us take on issues that affect all of us who live in Emmarentia.
Start by following the example of the resident who cares for her corner. Make sure your own verge is clean and clear of rubbish, don’t dump your garden refuse on the corners and keep the pavement pathways clear so that pedestrians can walk safely on them.
And no we can’t always rely on Felicity and Let’s Work – her team is too much in demand right across the Ward, there are just too many things that need doing. We need to do what we can ourselves.
Note: As we were sending out this newsletter, we heard that another group of people, inspired by Faizel, had hired a team to cut back and clean all the weeds and overgrowth on the east side of the dam wall. Thank you to all
What are ERA’s immediate priorities?
Infrastructure
One of our first priorities is to tackle the infrastructure – water, power and roads.
Water
Arno Steinmuller, newly-joined member of ERA’s Exco and who now guides ERA’s infrastructure portfolio, has been busy assessing flow rates of persistent water leaks along different sections of Hill, Kei and Komatie Roads. He estimates that with some of the very bad water leaks that continued for days, Joburg Water was losing up to R80 000 rands worth of water a day.
We worked with the councillor, David Hensman. He submitted Arno’s reports. ‘There’s no budget for capex,’ came the reply from Joburg Water.
ERA sat in on the IDP session on March 3 2021 at which suburbs can request capex spend. Arno spoke of the water problem. We were impressed by the depot manager from Joburg Water who said she was aware of the extent of the problem, that parts of Emmarentia’s water pipes were still the original old metal ones that urgently needed replacing.
A few days later, an e-mail came to Hensman from Joburg Water saying that they were hoping to replace 7590m of piping in the next financial year that begins in June/July 2021.
Power
Arno turned his attention to power problems. He examined the TSS on Hill Road near Mazoe. He sent his report to City Power via our councillor. “The substation is overheating, leaking oil and has a voltage output of 267V on one of the phases.” City Power followed up and confirmed that it needed to be replaced urgently as there appeared to be insulation damage and internal overheating of the transformer. As this newsletter went to print, City Power was still trying to secure budget to replace in this financial year.
ERA has also requested City Power to do an assessment of the Lotsani Road sub which regularly causes power surges damaging residents’ appliances and equipment. The sub also tends to blow fuses on a regular basis.
Roads
And then there’s the potholes. Drivers through Emmarentia have become used to driving on the right-hand side at the bottom of Komatie, on The Braids (near Hill Road), on Louw Geldenhuys (near The Braids) and numerous other roads in the suburb. That’s because where there should be tarmac, there’s just earth and sometimes gaping holes.
The vast majority of these ‘potholes’ are caused by water leaks in the road. The holes dug by Joburg Water are then meant to be reinstated by JRA.
Over the past year the ward committee has kept badgering JRA about the potholes and the failed reinstatements and the councillor has been raising the problems in the monthly ward councillor forum where senior managers of each utility are present. And residents have continued to report potholes to hotline@jra.org.za
But nothing happened. All we heard was that ‘there is no asphalt’.
And then in March 2021 JRA released a press statement explaining the problem with its non-operational asphalt plant bought at great expense a few years ago. It set out its plan for dealing with pothole backlogs until the end of March and Emmarentia is on its spreadsheet. As we released this newsletter, some of the potholes have been repaired, but we are still waiting for the gaping holes of the reinstatements to be done.
Details of which road the pothole is on and the name of the road on the nearest corner. If not fixed within 30 days, escalate to the councillor with the reference – dhensman@yebo.co.za and to info@ward88.co.za and info@era.org.za
For streetlights out, give the number of the streetlight painted on the pole and the street name. If not fixed within 7 days, escalate to the councillor with the reference – dhensman@yebo.co.za and to info@ward88.co.za and info@era.org.za
2. Resisting the proposed Five Storey mixed use development on Barry Hertzog Avenue/ Gleneagles/Linden roads
The Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) to hear the merits of the proposed 5-storey development in Emmarentia resumed on March 12 2021. It was a chance for the developer to put his views on why the development should go ahead. On April 12, ERA and other objectors will have a chance to present their views. ERA/ GRA continue to oppose the development in its current form.
On March 12 the applicant spent the whole day presenting his case on why the Tribunal should approve the development. The development proposes a 5-storey mixed use development (4-storeys along the boundary with the existing townhouses below the Shell garage) with basement parking. It will accommodate 89 residential units, with 500 sq metres of commercial and retail. The latter will include a day hospital, shops, offices and medical facilities.
The developer argued that the development:
will curb pressure on the natural environment by utilizing land within the urban development boundary in a strategic location. It will also enable citizens to have access to green infrastructure without negatively impacting it.
will be located within the urban development boundary with high levels of access to amenities in close proximity.
will also address spatial inequalities and the city’s job-housing mismatch because of its location in relation to economic activity.
was in line with the city’s new nodal review plan which allows for increased density and encourages mixed use developments, including 5-storey ones like the one the developer wants to build.
will promote robust sustainable development through efficient densities and land use.
will enhance inclusivity and social mixing.
The developer’s traffic expert said that increased traffic would not be a problem in the immediate surrounds but that there could be increased congestion at the intersection between Tana and Barry Hertzog where an additional slip road could be added.
The ERA/GRA Team raised as problems traffic congestion issues, the lack of updated reports on the state of infrastructure as well as the fact that the height was incongruous with existing properties. The full details of residents’ objections including those of ERA and GRA will be heard on April 12 at the resumption of the Tribunal hearings. After that the Tribunal will have heard both sides and will make their ruling/decision probably some time in May.
‘Please be assured that we will present your views with well-researched, sound technical facts, great care and integrity as we know how upset, frustrated and angry many of you are about this development,’ says Gemey Abrahams, ERA’s town planning portfolio head.
Gemey added that, ‘We also appreciate that the communities were open to offering alternative development solutions for the site.’ Since 2014 ‘ERA and GRA have met many times with the city, residents and the developer to propose an appropriate residential development on the sites, to no avail to date.’
Thanks to objectors’ generous donations we were able to secure specialist lawyers and experts to guide our input. If you would still like to donate to help ERA pay these costs (or join ERA and boost our coffers that way) please pay to:
Send POP to treasurer@era.org.za—reference: Tribunal
In the pipeline:
Cleaning and securing the shopping precinct on Greenhill/Komatie Road/Barry Hertzog
On March 30 ERA will meet with shopowners, the landlords, SAPS/CPF Parkview, security companies, Felicity from Let’s Work, to discuss how to secure the area better for shoppers and residents and tackle the problems of some troublesome carguards, theft of motor vehicles, cellphones, cleanliness etc… etc. More in the next newsletter.
Meet with Checkers management to talk about increased security in the parking area and surrounds
Meet the ERA team
We still need more volunteers to help ERA do all that residents want us to do. Young and old are the core of the ERA team and all of us lead busy lives involved with other things on top of ERA commitments. Some of us have full-time jobs or run their own professional practices, or are involved with other organisations.
Chairperson Ayanda Mjekula
Vice chair Vacant
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer Brian Askew
IT Vacant
Communication Claire Hoffmann
Green spaces and events Vacant
Infrastructure Arno Steinmuller
Newsletter, website Jenny Grice
Security Vacant
Town planning, building plans, heritage Gemey Abrahams
We are in urgent need of:
* an IT expert who can help advise us on the technical aspects of our website which uses Word Press – we are sorely missing Cassim Boorany who admirably served this role but who sadly passed on earlier this year.
* someone who is prepared to hold the security portfolio and who will liaise with security companies, the Parkview CPF, SAPS etc.
We welcome anyone who’d like to help. You don’t have to hold a specific portfolio, you can just join us and support us on the many projects that we want to get involved in and are already involved in. E-mail info@era.org.za
What has ERA been busy with over the last year?
Managed and signed off numerous applications from residents for building changes in terms of the Heritage Act and Louw Geldenhuys family regulations.
Continually monitored requests from property owners for changes in density, removal of restrictions on properties and didn’t approve those that we believed weren’t in keeping with the suburb’s precinct plan (find our precinct plan here https://era.org.za/emmarentia-precinct-plan/
Appointed specialist lawyers, a traffic expert, infrastructure experts and a market analysis expert to oppose the developer at the City’s Tribunal. The developer wants to build a 5-storey residential, commercial and medical centre in the triangle of land bounded by Gleneagles, Linden and Barry Hertzog Avenue. The Tribunal will hear more evidence in April 2021.
Monitored and reported illegal land use/building.
Kept residents informed through regular newsletters, the ERA website and Facebook page and included information around Covid eg. resources for kids
Donated R1000 to Parkview CPF for SAPS Parkview for Covid-related safety equipment
During lockdown encouraged residents to support Ward 88’s Let’s Work project and other organisations that were in need of donations in cash or kind
Supported the Emmarentia Eventide Home with donations of masks, an infra red thermometer and an Xmas in July lunch (with generous donations from residents) to raise their spirits
Took part in consultations with City Parks and consultants over plans to rehabilitate the top two dams in the dog-walking section of the park and pointed out several problems with the initial proposal and suggested changes. The plan was for the rehabilitation to begin in winter 2020 however Covid-19 delayed this
Organised sponsorship from Tyson Properties for a ‘please pick up after your dog’ sign at the Orange Road entrance to the park
Gave evidence as an interested party in the legal case of the opposition by community members to the erection of a 15m Telkom tower in Marico Road. ERA listed the clauses in Emmarentia properties’ title deeds imposed by the Louw Geldenhuys family that were not complied with by Telkom and the Council.
Organised a virtual ERA AGM for all residents to give a report on ERA activities over the previous year.
NEWS – A stinky situation
One morning recently an Emmarentia resident is confronted with sewerage flooding in her garden from the mains outside her property. Again. For the 5th or 6th time in the last few years.
She follows the same procedure she normally does: inform Joburg Water and wait for someone to come and clear it. Later that day Joburg Water arrives: ‘sorry, we can’t do anything, we need to get Vumatel, we don’t want to break the fibre cables.’
Joburg Water phones Vumatel who arrives the next afternoon and says ‘it’s not ours’. The stinky stuff is still welling up in the resident’s garden. She sends a desperate appeal on whatsapp groups: ‘stop flushing!’ More inspection of the pipes – ah, the culprit is Link Africa. More frantic phone calls. Eventually later that afternoon, almost 36 hours later, Link Africa arrive with a high pressure truck and clear the blockage.
As the resident says: ‘Who thought it would be a good idea to place obstructions in the sewerage pipes?’
According to Greenside councillor Bridget Steer, the court agreed a while ago that telcom companies could use government infrastructure for their networks. This is apparently causing extreme difficulties for Joburg Water.
Joburg Water itself has a service level agreement that once the fibre company is notified they have 4-6 hours to come and clear. In this case Joburg Water had the incorrect fibre company on their list.
The resident is now armed with all relevant numbers and is prepared for next time just in case Joburg Water doesn’t come to the stinky party in time.
TIME FOR GIVING:
Gum poles on east bank of the dam
The east bank of the dam has been a long-standing problem in the suburb. Fishermen come on Fridays, drive their cars over the pavement, set up camp and stay for the week-end. Despite being told that camping is not permitted, they keep setting up camp often next to bakkies that drive right over the pavement. There are no ablutions, fishermen tend to leave their hooks and bait lying around and you can imagine what else. Things can get quite unpleasant between the residents, other users of the dam like the canoeists and the visiting fishermen.
Felicity and Let’s Work have been working hard and appealing hard for funds to put in gum poles that will prevent cars/bakkies driving down to the water’s edge.
Finally an Emmarentia resident who owns Orejen in Linden has offered to sponsor the gum poles while ERA is to sponsor the cement up to the value of R10 000, Arno from ERA has drawn up the plan and Jonte the tree feller will oversee the Let’s Work team installing the poles. Big thanks to all for their assistance. Donations still needed to cover the balance of the cement and to Let’s Work to pay for their labour. (Felicity Gratz-Lawlor – 082 568 1783.
Let’s Work NPO# 201-696; FNB A/c 628 0129 9472; Your reference: gum poles
2. Refurbishing the Emmarentia Eventide Home
Many of you may remember the wonderful Christmas in July function ERA and Kindness like Confetti (KLC) held last year at the Salvation Army Eventide Home for the Aged in Emmarentia. Thanks to the generous support of the community it was a huge success.
We are once again appealing to residents and businesses to assist with a huge project KLC is now undertaking at the home to revamp the rooms and common spaces which are in dire need of a facelift.
They need:
Input from designers and creatives.
Bed linen, wall paint, lamps, paint, curtains, wall art, rugs and soft refurb items.
OR
Get a group of your friends together and sponsor the cost of redecorating one of the bedrooms;
sponsor a room as part of a departmental CSI project at work;
For more info on this exciting project and ways for you to get involved, message KLC on 072 675 1536 or email info@kindness.org.za
YOUR HELP NEEDED – BECOME A CPF PATROLLER OR A TRAIL GUARDIAN:
WANTED: Volunteer Parkview CPF patrollers
Parkview Community Policing Forum has been hard at work getting approval for CPF patrollers. Now they need volunteers to assist them.
What is a CPF?
A Community Police Forum (“CPF”) is a statutory body established in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the SAPS Interim Regulations and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act.
What are CPF patrollers?
CPF Patrollers are volunteers from the community.
What are requirements of CPF patrollers?
They need to:
have their fingerprints taken by SAPS,
wear an identification card,
adhere to a code of conduct and
adhere to all laws of the country.
What will CPF patrollers do?
They will spend a certain number of hours in their cars, patrolling the streets as “eyes and ears” for SAPS.
They go on patrols by reporting on and off duty at SAPS.
The patroller co-ordinator assists with logistics and SAPS requirements.
Patrollers will wear reflective jackets and use two-way radios to communicate with SAPS.
Rights of individuals in SA’s Bill of Rights are to be respected at all times.
Jozi Trails is a non-profit NGO that develops and maintains 37km of public trails and green space along the Braamfontein Spruit watercourse in Johannesburg. This includes Delta park.
What are Jozi Trails “trail guardians”
Endorsed by Joburg City Parks & Zoo, law enforcement authorities, CPFs and residents’ associations, Jozi Trails “Trail Guardians” will observe and report anything or anyone along the trail that looks suspicious so that local security service providers can come to check things out.
Who can volunteer?
You must be over 18 years old.
Any park user, walker, runner or cyclist can volunteer to be a Trail Guardian.
You can volunteer to do one or more shifts during the week. You may want to volunteer as a group so that you can patrol with friends or family.
What will “Trail Guardians” do?
Patrol the route from Conrad Drive to and around Delta Park. Patrols will happen twice a day, between 6h00 and 8h00 in the morning and between 16h00 and 18h00 in the afternoon.
Report anything that needs checking out. The Trail Guardians have no authority to do anything else.
Each group will have a MySOS panic button that allows them to instantly communicate with a central call centre that will dispatch the security company vehicle responsible for that section of the trail.
The Trail Guardians will patrol in groups of 4 during those times. Two groups patrolling per shift are planned.
Melville Koppies Sunday mornings Park at Marks Park, 8h00-11h30. (self-guide yourselves—choose from 5km hike; 3km heritage trail or just walk along the many paths – www.mk.org.za )
CITY NEWS
Proposed New Tariffs for 2021/2
The Draft Tariffs were tabled at the Council Meeting on 24 March 2021 and are now open for comments until 3 May 2021. Send comments to Ratescomments@joburg.org.za and pumzaj@joburg.org.za.
New tariffs start on 1 July 2021. All increases do not include 15% VAT.
2. Property Rates
• +2% for all categories.
• 60-69 year old pensioner thresholds: under R10545/month = 100% rebate; R10545-18073 = 50% rebate.
3. Water
• +6.8% for residential/business.
• Demand levy +6.8% to R28.32/month per dwelling for residential; R249.99 for businesses/institutions/mixed use per stand/erf.
• Institutional +8.9% for consumption up to 200Kl/month; +11.9% over 200Kl/month.
• Note – the above increases may change when Rand Water announces their new tariff.
4. Sewer
• Increase of 6.8% across the board.
5. Electricity
• +14.59% across the board (given Eskom increase of 15.09% & NERSA approval).
• Residential pre-paid block 1 (0-350kwh) increase will be +9.1% to cushion indigent households. To make up for this, block 2 (351-500kwh) will increase by 18.1%.
• Qualifying residential pre-paid customers can get a flat rate charge of R200 for 0-350Kwh if they get a 20A circuit breaker installed.
• New tariff for IPPs to supply customers in City Power areas.
• Network surcharge remains at 6c/Kwh.
• Residential pre-paid customers will be charged R200/month capacity charge; business pre-paid R400/month capacity charge.
6. Waste Management (Pikitup)
• +4.3% across the board.
• New recycling charge of R50 per household in “affluent areas” (ie not townships or informal areas).
• NOTE: Pikitup will be rolling out Separation @ Source throughout Jhb.
7. Billing
• Dishonored Payment R361.47.
• Delivery of Pre-termination Notice R276.20 giving 14 days notice.
• Delivery of Final Notice R183.67.
Claim from JRA if your car is damaged by a pothole
To file a claim against the City for accident caused by a pothole or damage to your car, follow these steps:
Ensure that you submit all the required supporting documents
Submit the claim together with the supporting documents to claims@jra.org.za or 75 Helen Joseph Street, Johannesburg. Telephone 011 491 5734/011 298 5168
(And if you are successful, please let us know – or put your success on Emmarentia’s whatsapp groups).
If you are not yet a member of ERA, but want to join: Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765. E-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za (Reference: surname and telephone number) together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form https://era.org.za/join-era/
The Tribunal Hearing for the 5 storey, mixed-use development on Gleneagles /Barry Hertzog will continue on Friday 12 March 2021.
Venue: Metro Centre, Ground Floor, Council Chamber Wing, Braamfontein
Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm
ERA and GRA are fiercely contesting the application for this development on behalf of the more than 2400 residents who objected to this development. We have been battling this issue since 2014 when an attempt was made to change our Precinct Plan to suit the development and then in 2015 when the development application was submitted. It is now before a Municipal Planning Tribunal for a decision. Please see an extract of the notice below and know that you are most welcome to attend in person. Already some have committed to be there to make a personal representation at the hearing, in addition to ours and we thank you for that. We have been assured that the venue will be safe and sanitised. We thank you for your ongoing support and be assured that ERA and GRA is doing its very best to represent your views on this development.
We also would like to urge all residents who have not yet contributed to the costs involved in employing experts and lawyers to assist us in dealing with this very serious issue, to please make a donation, however small.
The funds will be ring-fenced exclusively to defray costs associated with this action.
Please deposit whatever you are able to contribute (every rand will make a difference) to either the ERA or GRA accounts with Tribunal as your reference and please email us to let us know you have made this payment. Thanks in advance for your willingness to fight for what is best for our suburbs.
Regards Ayanda Mjekula (Chair ERA) and Judith Ancer (Chair GRA)
Emmarentia residents: ERA account: Emmarentia Residents Association
GRA Bank account : Account Name: Greenside Residents Association Bank: Standard Bank Savings Account: 007032137 Branch: Rosebank / 004205 Payment Reference: tribunal (and surname) Please email info@gra.org.za to let us know you have made payment
A friendly reminder to please send us your CBP/IDP submissions by the 1st of March 2021 so we can submit on your behalf. Please see more information below:
What Capital Expenditure projects do you want the City to focus on in Emmarentia? The City defines these projects as:
• Sewer & water pipe replacements • Storm water upgrades • Road resurfacing • Traffic calming • New traffic lights • Fencing of any parks and storm water drains • Upgrading of sub-stations
Please specify which roads/part of road/sub-station etc in Emmarentia in case we need to have a phased or prioritized approach.
There is an Online Community Based Planning Session taking place on the 3rd March and includes our ward. This an opportunity for residents to take part in a planning session on requesting Capital Expenditure projects, as well as seeing what is planned in the 2021/22 Financial Year.
Here is the information on the session should you wish to attend:
Online Community Based Planning Session to be held on Wed 3 March at 5pm This is for the following wards in Region B: 87, 88, 90, 98, 99, 102, 104 & 117 Click this link to attend the meeting on Wed 3 March: https://bit.ly/36SejzS
NOTE: There is another session for Wards 68, 69, 70, 82, 86 & 89 on Sat 27 Feb at 9am. You are welcome to attend it, but the focus will be on these wards. Click here to attend this meeting: https://bit.ly/2LyoylE
This is our Ward’s chance to take part in a planning session on requesting Capital Expenditure projects and to see what’s planned in the 2021/22 Financial Year. You can join Ward 88’s meeting online on 3 March at 17h00. (Wards 87, 90, 98, 99, 102, 104 & 117 who are also part of Region B will also attend)
Things that fall under Capital Expenditure include:
Sewer & water pipe replacements
Storm water upgrades
Road resurfacing
Traffic calming
New traffic lights
Fencing of any parks and storm water drains
Upgrading of sub-stations
So if you want to get a project on the budget radar, this is the meeting you MUST attend.
NOTE: There is another session for Wards 68, 69, 70, 82, 86 & 89 on Sat 27 Feb at 9am. You are welcome to attend it, but the focus will be on these wards. Click here to attend this meeting: https://bit.ly/2LyoylE
ERA is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Cassim Boorany. Cassim had been on the executive of ERA since 2015 after he had been brought in as an IT expert to help assess all the proposals ERA received from potential fibre service providers. After Vumatel was appointed, he then assisted with the tough job of trying to get residents to give their support to the initiative.
He held the dual portfolios of IT and deputy chairperson and in these roles showed his strong commitment to the community.
“He was a pillar of support in the heated discussions around the proposed development on the corner of Gleneagles Road and Barry Hertzog Avenue,” remembers Geraldine Connell, a past chairperson of ERA.
With his IT know-how, he helped coordinate the huge number of objections (more than 2400) to the Gleneagles/Barry Hertzog development that then had to be submitted to the City. (ERA is still fighting this case at the City’s Tribunal hearing)
Cas often worked behind the scenes – the new website is thanks to him. He worked on the complicated aspects – the set up, the design, the look-and-feel, so that as IT ‘non-experts’, we could take it over and just add new bits to it. Likewise the mailchimp system where we have a database of residents and objectors that we can easily communicate with, is also due to him.
When Covid lockdown hit us all, he organised an on-line AGM so that the AGM could go ahead as required by the Constitution.
He was always the one we turned to when we received an e-mail in IT gobbledygook which he then interpreted for us and advised us on what to do.
Nothing was too difficult for Cas. He always had exciting ideas about how to solve a myriad of problems. Sometimes the solution that he was going to provide could take a long time. This was because his commitments and interests extended across a wide field. For the past 10 years Cas had been involved in workplace investigations, forensic analysis of computers, smartphones and tablets. He was also an arbitrator and mediator and had chaired many disciplinary enquiries and in other situations, represented parties in disciplinary enquiries. Despite all this work he was also studying for an LLB. Little wonder that it could take a while for him to deliver what ERA wanted at no cost to the organisation.
Even though he had resigned towards the end of 2020, he had just recently shared all the IT passwords that ERA would need with us and had assured us that he would always be there when we needed. Such a gesture indicates his generosity of spirit.
Cas was a principled person and had strong views on things and how things should be done. He was not afraid to call us out when he thought we were not taking all issues into account and he always offered additional insight that we often didn’t have. The drafting of a Code of Conduct for Exco members is also thanks to him.
ERA is the poorer for his passing. We will miss him in so many ways. ERA extends our deepest sympathy to his wife and family.
The Tribunal hearing to hear argument for and against the proposed mixed use development bounded by Barry Hertzog, Gleneagles and Linden Roads was postponed after one of the City’s planning staff that was to attend the hearing tested positive.
The next sitting of the Tribunal will take place on 12 March 2021.
We would like to remind all objectors and concerned residents that they can attend the hearing which will take place at the Metro Centre – the room is on the Ground Floor of the Council Chamber Wing and we must be there at 9h30 (you must allow yourself at least 30 minutes to get to the meeting room). We have been assured that the room will have been sanitised and that doors will be open for air circulation. We expect it could continue for the full day. (For more details about the background to the development see here: https://era.org.za/tribunal-on-mixed-use-development-to-resume-january-2021/
Be assured that the ERA and GRA is aware of all the objections you raised and we have been and will continue to do our level best to act in your best interests and those of our beloved suburbs.
Posted: 25th June 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
The Emmarentia Post, No 2, May 2021
Tribunal to continue in July
Complexity of case has already required four days of hearings
Since our last newsletter in March, two more meetings of the Tribunal were held (April and May) to decide the rezoning on Erven 1098 – 1104.
May hearing
At the May hearing, ‘we at last had “our day in court”’ says Gemey Abrahams, who holds ERA’s town planning portfolio.
Abrahams presented what ERA chair, Ayanda Mjekula, described as a ‘spirited and erudite presentation’ that was ‘emotional but highly professional’.
She took the Tribunal through her 13-page submission which detailed the complex history of the proposed development since 2014 including the submission of 2479 residents’ objections to the development.
Some residents braved the less than ideal conditions at the venue and presented in person and made passionate and clear pleas to the Tribunal explaining how the development will detrimentally affect them.
Greenside Residents Association chair, Judith Ancer, outlined how the proposed development would have a negative impact on the Greenside commercial and retail sector.
Other objectors sent in additional submissions that were read out to the Tribunal.
July hearing
The final day of hearing is scheduled in early July where our lawyers will complete all the legal arguments in support of our objection and the applicants’ advocate and legal team will close with their reasons for supporting the development.
ERA and GRA will keep residents informed and provide feedback after the last day of hearing.
The Tribunal will then adjourn. It must consider all these inputs, along with the 2 479 submission made in November 2015, look at both sides, weigh up the facts and come to a decision, most likely later in July.
Cost
Taking part in the Tribunal entails huge costs. The cost of our lawyers and experts has climbed to almost R320 000 despite many experts offering us significant discounts on their services and several offering their services for free. ERA is very grateful for the excellent service they have given us.
A huge thanks to Emmarentia and Greenside residents who have generously donated almost R121 000.
So far the shortfall is being covered by ERA’s and GRA’s reserves which are fast becoming depleted. With no reserves, ERA and GRA will not able to be pro-active and act on other burning issues facing all of us in our suburb.
Appeal
We appeal to Emmarentia residents to either donate to ERA for the costs of the Tribunal, or, if you are not already an ERA member, to join us.
Special discounts available for a 2-year membership: R500 for 2021/22 and 2022/23. Rates for pensioners (R200 per annum) and businesses (R950 per annum) remain unchanged.
Banking details:
Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765. E-mail POP to:
treasurer@era.org.za
(Reference: surname and telephone number) together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form here:
https://era.org.za/join-era/
(If you are donating for the Tribunal costs, please change your reference to Tribunal)
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House fires—be prepared!
In the past few months, two houses in the neighbouring suburbs of Linden and Parkview have been gutted by fire. Here are tips from Michael O’ Donovan, Ward 88 Committee:
Meanwhile Felicity Gratz-Lawlor reports that ex-Roosevelt Park Fire Chief will be running basic fire training. Connect here to find out more:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/FcH49LHpV3iHG2FM1HEoHV
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Briefs
· Cemetery gets a clean-up
ERA recently organised for a clean of the Geldenhuys cemetery with the help of funds from the Geldenhuys family. Invasive alien plants like lantana, mulberries, privets, bugweeds were removed from inside and outside the cemetery so they don’t spread their seeds into your gardens.
When spring comes there’ll be more weeding to make sure that they don’t return. The cyprus trees that were planted when the cemetery was first established have been left untouched.
ERA is currently applying for a heritage plaque for the site and we hope to put up information boards and open the cemetery to visitors at a later stage.
Any ideas from residents on what to do with the space are most welcome or join our history sub-committee.
· Greenhill Shops and carguards
The majority of the shopkeepers attended the March meeting coordinated by ERA with SAPS/CPF Parkview, CAP and Felicity from Let’s Work. The meeting discussed how to increase security in the shopping district.
Since then CAP has submitted two proposals – one that envisages CAP stepping up policing of the shopping strip and the other that relies on carguards working with CAP.
ERA will meet again with CAP and a representative of the shopowners on May 28 to understand the carguard proposal in more detail. Our other security project is to meet with Checkers. More in the next newsletter.
· Controlling invasives in Emmarentia Park
ERA has been concerned by the rapid spreading of the water hyacinth in the top dam in Emmarentia which is threatening to cover the entire dam.
According to City Parks, they are working with researchers at Rhodes University who are currently testing biological control of the weed.
We had hoped that the rehabilitation of the top two dams, including removal of all the invasive aliens, would start in the new financial year however Covid seems to have delayed the envisaged plan.
City Parks is also keeping an eye on the parrot feather (another invasive from South America) in the top dam and has introduced more beetles (with researchers monitoring) to biologically control the invasive.
Its team also successfully removed a very big patch of the invasive weed close to the entrance at Louw Geldenhuys. We will keep you posted.
ERA has a small environmental sub-committee that always welcomes new members – e-mail info@era.org.za
· Beware in green spaces
The top end of Emmarentia park on the corner of Beyers Naude and Judith Road and near the scout hall below the dam wall seem to be two favourite spots for muggers.
Be careful – even when walkers were walking without cellphones and with 6 dogs, muggers, armed with knives/pistols, took rings and other jewellery. The worst times seem to be early in the morning and very late afternoon.
There is now a Ward 88 walk group. Meet at 4.30pm every afternoon in one of the suburbs covered by the Ward. Anyone can join the walk and at your own pace.
Security vehicles will be in attendance.
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Covid-19 – The science behind Covid vaccinations
If you are grappling with questions like:
Read here for the answers from Johannesburg GP, Dr Sheri Fanaroff
https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/should-you-get-the-jab-doctor-tackles-frequently-asked-covid-19-vaccine-questions-73c7097f-ceab-4e47-b887-ac1d8e59ba51
· Help those over 60 to register for Covid-19 vaccine
Please help your helpers/gardeners who may be over 60 to get registered and vaccinated. Keep phoning Parkhurst Clinic (free) and Medicare Greenhill to find out when they will start vaccinating.
City News
* Debt relief to ratepayers suffering because of Covid-19
If you are a ratepayer and your municipal account is in arrears of more than 90 days as at 31 December 2020, you may be eligible for debt relief, available for a limited period only – cut off date 31 July.
The programme has recently been extended to benefit small businesses, places of worship and non-profit organizations with a gross revenue annual income of not more than R3 million.
Read the detailed terms and conditions to see if you are eligible: https://www.joburg.org.za/services_/Documents/2021%20Rebates/DR%20Form.pdf
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ERA makes great strides in getting infrastructure fixed
Many thanks to those that heeded our call and have helped us to report water leaks, failure by JRA to reinstate etc. Please keep doing it to ensure that we receive the services that we pay for.
JRA
Frustrated with the failure of JRA to do reinstatements despite ERA’s, the ward committee’s and the councillor’s persistent requests, ERA finally submitted a letter to the ombud, setting out which reinstatements had not been done.
The ombud gave JRA 14 days to reinstate. This deadline expired on May 24 and as at that date, some had been completed: Louw Geldenhuys (2), Muirfield, Umtata.
But then another problem arose: they’d fixed the road but left all the rubble on the pavement. As this newsletter went to print, the councillor was putting pressure on JRA to remove the rubble so that pedestrians can walk safely on the pavement.
We will continue to put pressure on JRA to reinstate the remaining ones on Kei and upper Komatie.
Meanwhile JRA has filled in many reported potholes and has made a 4-way stop that was urgently needed on Komatie/Muirfield.
Please keep reporting to
Joburg Water
We are crossing fingers that in the new financial year that begins on 1 July 2021, 7590m of water pipes in Emmarentia will be replaced as per Joburg Water’s undertaking to us.
Please keep submitting water/sewerage leaks to
City Power
The transformer in the mini sub on Hill Road, corner Mazoe is still ‘running hot’ reports ERA’s infrastructure man, Arno Steinmuller. However, Arno reports that he’s had ‘a 100% success rate’ on other matters like ‘streetlights out’. ‘As long as they are not capital items’ like the transformer, they seem to get fixed, he says. However, much of the electricity infrastructure in the suburb is old and needs replacing and with load-shedding likely to increase as we head into winter, more old cables are likely to fail.
Felicity Gratz-Lawlor advises residents that when reporting outages ‘only log 1 call per house; if you log a second one you will be put to the bottom of the queue and if you log a third time, they cancel you.’
Please keep submitting streetlight problems, outages etc. on citypower.mobi
And if you’d like to take a more active role in monitoring the suburb’s infrastructure, let us know. We have a small group of people supporting Arno Steinmuller in this busy role.
Knowing our neighbours
There is one upside of infrastructure collapse and threats to our security: we are all finding out who our neighbours are, even if it’s virtually through whatsapp groups rather than talking through the fence. When some residents don’t have water or electricity, or there’s been a robbery, ‘knowing our neighbours have our backs is so important because this does not happen in every suburb’, one resident remarked on a whatsapp group recently.
If you’re new to the suburb and you’re not on a whatsapp group, speak to your neighbour(s) or find a list of some of the whatsapp groups here https://era.org.za/join-a-whatsapp-group-in-your-street/
(This newsletter was sent to the printer before the massive water outage caused by further power outages at the end of May and before the Hill/Mazoe mini-sub failed again leaving residents without power for more than 36 hours. Read more about the poor state of Joburg’s infrastructure here https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-05-30-city-of-gold-plunges-its-residents-into-darkness-1407-power-cuts-in-2021-and-thats-besides-load-shedding/ and here:
Thanks to Let’s Work for their hard work in our suburb
Due to generous donations from residents, Let’s Work managed to complete the gum pole project on the eastern bank of the dam without ERA’s donation. Many thanks to Let’s Work, Jonte, the tree feller who supervised the Let’s Work Team, Orejen who donated the gum poles, and other residents who donated the cement. Since the gum poles have been erected, ‘no fishermen have parked by the side of dam,’ says Felicity Gratz-Lawlor.
Please can residents try and keep their verges mown and gutters clear of grass so that stormwater can flow freely. If you can’t manage to do this, please contact Felicty Gratz-Lawlor at Let’s Work on 082 568 1783 and donate to Leet’s Work so that her team can do it for you.
Please keep donating to Let’s Work so her team can continue to cut firebreaks, clean the public toilets and the many other projects that they do in public spaces to benefit Emmarentia and Ward 88.
Let’s Work NPO# 201-696; FNB A/c 628 0129 9472; Ref: Emmarentia
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ERA needs you
Are you concerned about your safety, decaying and vandalised infrastructure, that the City may not be using your rates correctly? ERA will hold a virtual AGM on Wednesday 9 June 2021 at 18h30.
Join us on this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97601874754?pwd=cG85akVrRHVHMnd6WGZhTERWSFFrZz09
‘People may not understand the value of a residents association until you are part of it. And then you see how much work is done to protect and improve the suburb.’ Judith Ancer, chairperson of the Greenside Residents Association
If you can’t make the zoom meeting, e-mail us your ideas to info@era.org.za before the meeting so we can raise them there.
Find reports of what we’ve done over the last year on
www.era.org.za
Pay your membership fees to:
Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765. E-mail POP to:
treasurer@era.org.za
(Reference: surname and telephone number) together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form https://era.org.za/join-era/
NOTE: If you’re paying for Tribunal, reference= Tribunal
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Give ERA a few hours a month
Do you have two or more hours a month to give to ERA to help serve residents better? These are the areas where we are looking for volunteers. You are welcome to suggest other burning issues/areas that you are prepared to work on:
Last Updated: 11th June 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
ERA virtual AGM, 9 June 2021, 18h30-21h00
Come and hear Judith Ancer, Greenside Residents Association chairperson and psychologist talk about: The health benefits of active engagement in your community – a psychologist’s perspective
Join on this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97601874754?pwd=cG85akVrRHVHMnd6WGZhTERWSFFrZz09
Read the documents for the AGM here:
Agenda
AGM-agenda-2021.updatedMinutes of the 2020 AGM, 14 October 2020
minutes-virtual-ERA-AGM-14-October-2020Chairperson’s Report
AGM-Chairpersons-Report-ERA-2021.AM_Security Report
SECURITY-REPORT-TO-AGMTreasurer’s Report
ERA-Financial-Report-2021Town Planning, Building Control and Heritage Report
AGM-town-planning-heritage-and-building-report-2021-Gemey-Abrahams_Infrastructure Report
ERA-infrastructure-report-AGMCommunication Report
Communication-Report-AGM-2021Environment and History
history-and-environmental-report-to-agm.june-2021Read the ERA Constitution here https://era.org.za/constitution/
Posted: 14th April 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
Eskom’s energy-saving tips
With electricity tariffs set to increase soon by 15 per cent, check out Eskom’s web page to see what energy-saving tips they have. Find them here:
www.eskom.co.za/residential
Read about:
Posted: 31st March 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
The Emmarentia Post, No 1, March 2021
A message from ERA
Normally the religious holidays coming up are a time to get together with family or friends or to share the special time with others in big and small gatherings.
Unfortunately Covid-19 is still with us and will be for some time.
Let’s all lower the third wave together. Let’s just keep doing what we have to do to stay safe from the virus so that we can all be here again next year.
Stay safe.
Tackling the problems, one at a time
Emmarentia’s active WhatsApp groups are a good gauge of residents’ true feelings. Recently there was a lively debate about the litany of woes that we are faced with: potholes, loadshedding, water outages, petty theft, people sleeping on pavements, litter strewn across pavements, illegal dumping, verges unmown, a City that is short of money.
Residents bemoaned a city that doesn’t listen to residents’ concerns, power surges and outages that were playing havoc with freezer contents and appliances, while another described the uphill battle of keeping her corner clean. ‘I remove 200 illegal posters from my corner weekly. I have removed more PENIS ENLARGEMENT and Lost LOVER posters stuck onto our robots with superglue than I care to remember.
I clean up a urine soiled BUS STOP with a dustbin overflowing every single day or my cupboards and clothing would stink of urine … take a drive through Kensington and have a look at their corners – ours are not far off.’
The same resident put a challenge to ERA and to all of us who live in the suburb: ‘Want to volunteer a day or two ERA? Or ask residents to clean up just outside their own homes? While asking … ask them to stop dumping their garden garbage on corners … so much one could do to make our OWN space so much better if we all worked collectively as a neighbourhood.
Another resident took up this challenge without being asked. Unhappy with the state of the weeds on the path crossing the dam, he arrived with his garden shears, a rake and a bag and proceeded to clear the path of weeds and undergrowth – thank you Faizel, you’ve shown us the way.
Get involved. Join ERA. Help us take on issues that affect all of us who live in Emmarentia.
Start by following the example of the resident who cares for her corner. Make sure your own verge is clean and clear of rubbish, don’t dump your garden refuse on the corners and keep the pavement pathways clear so that pedestrians can walk safely on them.
And no we can’t always rely on Felicity and Let’s Work – her team is too much in demand right across the Ward, there are just too many things that need doing. We need to do what we can ourselves.
Find out more about what ERA does and has been doing here: https://era.org.za/join-era/
Note: As we were sending out this newsletter, we heard that another group of people, inspired by Faizel, had hired a team to cut back and clean all the weeds and overgrowth on the east side of the dam wall. Thank you to all
What are ERA’s immediate priorities?
One of our first priorities is to tackle the infrastructure – water, power and roads.
Arno Steinmuller, newly-joined member of ERA’s Exco and who now guides ERA’s infrastructure portfolio, has been busy assessing flow rates of persistent water leaks along different sections of Hill, Kei and Komatie Roads. He estimates that with some of the very bad water leaks that continued for days, Joburg Water was losing up to R80 000 rands worth of water a day.
We worked with the councillor, David Hensman. He submitted Arno’s reports. ‘There’s no budget for capex,’ came the reply from Joburg Water.
ERA sat in on the IDP session on March 3 2021 at which suburbs can request capex spend. Arno spoke of the water problem. We were impressed by the depot manager from Joburg Water who said she was aware of the extent of the problem, that parts of Emmarentia’s water pipes were still the original old metal ones that urgently needed replacing.
A few days later, an e-mail came to Hensman from Joburg Water saying that they were hoping to replace 7590m of piping in the next financial year that begins in June/July 2021.
Arno turned his attention to power problems. He examined the TSS on Hill Road near Mazoe. He sent his report to City Power via our councillor. “The substation is overheating, leaking oil and has a voltage output of 267V on one of the phases.” City Power followed up and confirmed that it needed to be replaced urgently as there appeared to be insulation damage and internal overheating of the transformer. As this newsletter went to print, City Power was still trying to secure budget to replace in this financial year.
ERA has also requested City Power to do an assessment of the Lotsani Road sub which regularly causes power surges damaging residents’ appliances and equipment. The sub also tends to blow fuses on a regular basis.
And then there’s the potholes. Drivers through Emmarentia have become used to driving on the right-hand side at the bottom of Komatie, on The Braids (near Hill Road), on Louw Geldenhuys (near The Braids) and numerous other roads in the suburb. That’s because where there should be tarmac, there’s just earth and sometimes gaping holes.
The vast majority of these ‘potholes’ are caused by water leaks in the road. The holes dug by Joburg Water are then meant to be reinstated by JRA.
Over the past year the ward committee has kept badgering JRA about the potholes and the failed reinstatements and the councillor has been raising the problems in the monthly ward councillor forum where senior managers of each utility are present. And residents have continued to report potholes to hotline@jra.org.za
But nothing happened. All we heard was that ‘there is no asphalt’.
And then in March 2021 JRA released a press statement explaining the problem with its non-operational asphalt plant bought at great expense a few years ago. It set out its plan for dealing with pothole backlogs until the end of March and Emmarentia is on its spreadsheet. As we released this newsletter, some of the potholes have been repaired, but we are still waiting for the gaping holes of the reinstatements to be done.
ERA has also submitted its wishlist for capex spend by the City in 2022. Find it here https://era.org.za/era-makes-cbp-idp-submission/
Help us report and monitor services (or lack of):
We need you to help us to continue reporting and monitoring that the leaks/outages/potholes have been repaired – see below for who to contact.
2. Resisting the proposed Five Storey mixed use development on Barry Hertzog Avenue/ Gleneagles/Linden roads
The Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) to hear the merits of the proposed 5-storey development in Emmarentia resumed on March 12 2021. It was a chance for the developer to put his views on why the development should go ahead. On April 12, ERA and other objectors will have a chance to present their views. ERA/ GRA continue to oppose the development in its current form.
For background on this issue see here: https://era.org.za/proposed-mixed-use-development-to-go-to-tribunal/
On March 12 the applicant spent the whole day presenting his case on why the Tribunal should approve the development. The development proposes a 5-storey mixed use development (4-storeys along the boundary with the existing townhouses below the Shell garage) with basement parking. It will accommodate 89 residential units, with 500 sq metres of commercial and retail. The latter will include a day hospital, shops, offices and medical facilities.
The developer argued that the development:
The developer’s traffic expert said that increased traffic would not be a problem in the immediate surrounds but that there could be increased congestion at the intersection between Tana and Barry Hertzog where an additional slip road could be added.
The ERA/GRA Team raised as problems traffic congestion issues, the lack of updated reports on the state of infrastructure as well as the fact that the height was incongruous with existing properties. The full details of residents’ objections including those of ERA and GRA will be heard on April 12 at the resumption of the Tribunal hearings. After that the Tribunal will have heard both sides and will make their ruling/decision probably some time in May.
‘Please be assured that we will present your views with well-researched, sound technical facts, great care and integrity as we know how upset, frustrated and angry many of you are about this development,’ says Gemey Abrahams, ERA’s town planning portfolio head.
Gemey added that, ‘We also appreciate that the communities were open to offering alternative development solutions for the site.’ Since 2014 ‘ERA and GRA have met many times with the city, residents and the developer to propose an appropriate residential development on the sites, to no avail to date.’
Thanks to objectors’ generous donations we were able to secure specialist lawyers and experts to guide our input. If you would still like to donate to help ERA pay these costs (or join ERA and boost our coffers that way) please pay to:
Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank, A/c 1975051173
Send POP to treasurer@era.org.za—reference: Tribunal
In the pipeline:
Cleaning and securing the shopping precinct on Greenhill/Komatie Road/Barry Hertzog
On March 30 ERA will meet with shopowners, the landlords, SAPS/CPF Parkview, security companies, Felicity from Let’s Work, to discuss how to secure the area better for shoppers and residents and tackle the problems of some troublesome carguards, theft of motor vehicles, cellphones, cleanliness etc… etc. More in the next newsletter.
Meet the ERA team
We still need more volunteers to help ERA do all that residents want us to do. Young and old are the core of the ERA team and all of us lead busy lives involved with other things on top of ERA commitments. Some of us have full-time jobs or run their own professional practices, or are involved with other organisations.
Chairperson Ayanda Mjekula
Vice chair Vacant
Secretary Vacant
Treasurer Brian Askew
IT Vacant
Communication Claire Hoffmann
Green spaces and events Vacant
Infrastructure Arno Steinmuller
Newsletter, website Jenny Grice
Security Vacant
Town planning, building plans, heritage Gemey Abrahams
We are in urgent need of:
* an IT expert who can help advise us on the technical aspects of our website which uses Word Press – we are sorely missing Cassim Boorany who admirably served this role but who sadly passed on earlier this year.
* someone who is prepared to hold the security portfolio and who will liaise with security companies, the Parkview CPF, SAPS etc.
We welcome anyone who’d like to help. You don’t have to hold a specific portfolio, you can just join us and support us on the many projects that we want to get involved in and are already involved in. E-mail info@era.org.za
What has ERA been busy with over the last year?
NEWS – A stinky situation
One morning recently an Emmarentia resident is confronted with sewerage flooding in her garden from the mains outside her property. Again. For the 5th or 6th time in the last few years.
She follows the same procedure she normally does: inform Joburg Water and wait for someone to come and clear it. Later that day Joburg Water arrives: ‘sorry, we can’t do anything, we need to get Vumatel, we don’t want to break the fibre cables.’
Joburg Water phones Vumatel who arrives the next afternoon and says ‘it’s not ours’. The stinky stuff is still welling up in the resident’s garden. She sends a desperate appeal on whatsapp groups: ‘stop flushing!’ More inspection of the pipes – ah, the culprit is Link Africa. More frantic phone calls. Eventually later that afternoon, almost 36 hours later, Link Africa arrive with a high pressure truck and clear the blockage.
As the resident says: ‘Who thought it would be a good idea to place obstructions in the sewerage pipes?’
According to Greenside councillor Bridget Steer, the court agreed a while ago that telcom companies could use government infrastructure for their networks. This is apparently causing extreme difficulties for Joburg Water.
Joburg Water itself has a service level agreement that once the fibre company is notified they have 4-6 hours to come and clear. In this case Joburg Water had the incorrect fibre company on their list.
The resident is now armed with all relevant numbers and is prepared for next time just in case Joburg Water doesn’t come to the stinky party in time.
TIME FOR GIVING:
The east bank of the dam has been a long-standing problem in the suburb. Fishermen come on Fridays, drive their cars over the pavement, set up camp and stay for the week-end. Despite being told that camping is not permitted, they keep setting up camp often next to bakkies that drive right over the pavement. There are no ablutions, fishermen tend to leave their hooks and bait lying around and you can imagine what else. Things can get quite unpleasant between the residents, other users of the dam like the canoeists and the visiting fishermen.
Felicity and Let’s Work have been working hard and appealing hard for funds to put in gum poles that will prevent cars/bakkies driving down to the water’s edge.
Finally an Emmarentia resident who owns Orejen in Linden has offered to sponsor the gum poles while ERA is to sponsor the cement up to the value of R10 000, Arno from ERA has drawn up the plan and Jonte the tree feller will oversee the Let’s Work team installing the poles. Big thanks to all for their assistance. Donations still needed to cover the balance of the cement and to Let’s Work to pay for their labour. (Felicity Gratz-Lawlor – 082 568 1783.
Let’s Work NPO# 201-696; FNB A/c 628 0129 9472; Your reference: gum poles
2. Refurbishing the Emmarentia Eventide Home
Many of you may remember the wonderful Christmas in July function ERA and Kindness like Confetti (KLC) held last year at the Salvation Army Eventide Home for the Aged in Emmarentia. Thanks to the generous support of the community it was a huge success.
We are once again appealing to residents and businesses to assist with a huge project KLC is now undertaking at the home to revamp the rooms and common spaces which are in dire need of a facelift.
They need:
OR
For more info on this exciting project and ways for you to get involved, message KLC on 072 675 1536 or email info@kindness.org.za
YOUR HELP NEEDED – BECOME A CPF PATROLLER OR A TRAIL GUARDIAN:
Parkview Community Policing Forum has been hard at work getting approval for CPF patrollers. Now they need volunteers to assist them.
What is a CPF?
A Community Police Forum (“CPF”) is a statutory body established in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the SAPS Interim Regulations and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act.
What are CPF patrollers?
CPF Patrollers are volunteers from the community.
What are requirements of CPF patrollers?
They need to:
What will CPF patrollers do?
More info – please e-mail Geraldine Connell at chair@parkviewcpf.co.za
2. WANTED: Trail guardians for JOZI Trails
What is Jozi Trails?
Jozi Trails is a non-profit NGO that develops and maintains 37km of public trails and green space along the Braamfontein Spruit watercourse in Johannesburg. This includes Delta park.
What are Jozi Trails “trail guardians”
Endorsed by Joburg City Parks & Zoo, law enforcement authorities, CPFs and residents’ associations, Jozi Trails “Trail Guardians” will observe and report anything or anyone along the trail that looks suspicious so that local security service providers can come to check things out.
Who can volunteer?
What will “Trail Guardians” do?
If you are interested, please fill in the form below and Jozi Trails will be in touch with more details. https://forms.gle/M6SjQkCtF3FEWBhc8. If you’d like more information, please contact Jozi Trails at security@jozitrails.co.za or owen@jozitrails.co.za or david@jozitrails.co.za.
What’s on?
Linden Market 27-28 March Johannesburg Botanic Gardens, Emmarentia, 9.00am – 4.30pm
More details: https://thelindenmarket.com/
Melville Koppies Sunday mornings Park at Marks Park, 8h00-11h30. (self-guide yourselves—choose from 5km hike; 3km heritage trail or just walk along the many paths – www.mk.org.za )
CITY NEWS
The Draft Tariffs were tabled at the Council Meeting on 24 March 2021 and are now open for comments until 3 May 2021. Send comments to Ratescomments@joburg.org.za and pumzaj@joburg.org.za.
New tariffs start on 1 July 2021. All increases do not include 15% VAT.
2. Property Rates
• +2% for all categories.
• 60-69 year old pensioner thresholds: under R10545/month = 100% rebate; R10545-18073 = 50% rebate.
3. Water
• +6.8% for residential/business.
• Demand levy +6.8% to R28.32/month per dwelling for residential; R249.99 for businesses/institutions/mixed use per stand/erf.
• Institutional +8.9% for consumption up to 200Kl/month; +11.9% over 200Kl/month.
• Note – the above increases may change when Rand Water announces their new tariff.
4. Sewer
• Increase of 6.8% across the board.
5. Electricity
• +14.59% across the board (given Eskom increase of 15.09% & NERSA approval).
• Residential pre-paid block 1 (0-350kwh) increase will be +9.1% to cushion indigent households. To make up for this, block 2 (351-500kwh) will increase by 18.1%.
• Qualifying residential pre-paid customers can get a flat rate charge of R200 for 0-350Kwh if they get a 20A circuit breaker installed.
• New tariff for IPPs to supply customers in City Power areas.
• Network surcharge remains at 6c/Kwh.
• Residential pre-paid customers will be charged R200/month capacity charge; business pre-paid R400/month capacity charge.
6. Waste Management (Pikitup)
• +4.3% across the board.
• New recycling charge of R50 per household in “affluent areas” (ie not townships or informal areas).
• NOTE: Pikitup will be rolling out Separation @ Source throughout Jhb.
7. Billing
• Dishonored Payment R361.47.
• Delivery of Pre-termination Notice R276.20 giving 14 days notice.
• Delivery of Final Notice R183.67.
Claim from JRA if your car is damaged by a pothole
To file a claim against the City for accident caused by a pothole or damage to your car, follow these steps:
(And if you are successful, please let us know – or put your success on Emmarentia’s whatsapp groups).
Want to receive this newsletter direct to your e-mail? – click here: https://era.org.za/subscribe/
If you are not yet a member of ERA, but want to join: Subscriptions for 2020/2021 are: R350 per annum per household (R200 for over 65s); R950 for businesses. Pay to: Emmarentia Residents Association, Nedbank; A/c: 1975051173; Branch Code: 198765. E-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za
(Reference: surname and telephone number) together with your completed membership form. Download a membership form https://era.org.za/join-era/
Posted: 4th March 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
Tribunal Hearing – 12 March 2021 – and an appeal for donations
Dear Residents
The Tribunal Hearing for the 5 storey, mixed-use development on Gleneagles /Barry Hertzog will continue on Friday 12 March 2021.
Venue: Metro Centre, Ground Floor, Council Chamber Wing, Braamfontein
Time: 9.30am – 5.00pm
ERA and GRA are fiercely contesting the application for this development on behalf of the more than 2400 residents who objected to this development. We have been battling this issue since 2014 when an attempt was made to change our Precinct Plan to suit the development and then in 2015 when the development application was submitted. It is now before a Municipal Planning Tribunal for a decision. Please see an extract of the notice below and know that you are most welcome to attend in person. Already some have committed to be there to make a personal representation at the hearing, in addition to ours and we thank you for that. We have been assured that the venue will be safe and sanitised. We thank you for your ongoing support and be assured that ERA and GRA is doing its very best to represent your views on this development.
We also would like to urge all residents who have not yet contributed to the costs involved in employing experts and lawyers to assist us in dealing with this very serious issue, to please make a donation, however small.
The funds will be ring-fenced exclusively to defray costs associated with this action.
Please deposit whatever you are able to contribute (every rand will make a difference) to either the ERA or GRA accounts with Tribunal as your reference and please email us to let us know you have made this payment. Thanks in advance for your willingness to fight for what is best for our suburbs.
Regards
Ayanda Mjekula (Chair ERA) and Judith Ancer (Chair GRA)
Emmarentia residents:
ERA account: Emmarentia Residents Association
Nedbank: A/c: 1975051173
Branch Code: 198765 – Rosebank
E-mail POP to: treasurer@era.org.za
Payment reference: “Tribunal” (and surname)
Greenside residents:
GRA Bank account :
Account Name: Greenside Residents Association
Bank: Standard Bank
Savings Account: 007032137
Branch: Rosebank / 004205
Payment Reference: tribunal (and surname)
Please email info@gra.org.za to let us know you have made payment
For more information about the background to this issue see: https://era.org.za/proposed-mixed-use-development-to-go-to-tribunal/ and
https://era.org.za/tribunal-on-mixed-use-development-to-resume-january-2021/
Last Updated: 26th February 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
Have your say on what the City must spend money on!
Dear Residents
A friendly reminder to please send us your CBP/IDP submissions by the 1st of March 2021 so we can submit on your behalf. Please see more information below:
What Capital Expenditure projects do you want the City to focus on in Emmarentia? The City defines these
projects as:
• Sewer & water pipe replacements
• Storm water upgrades
• Road resurfacing
• Traffic calming
• New traffic lights
• Fencing of any parks and storm water drains
• Upgrading of sub-stations
Please specify which roads/part of road/sub-station etc in Emmarentia in case we need to have a phased or prioritized approach.
Email us on info@era.org.za by 1 March 2021 or here is a link to make an online submission as well: https://share.hsforms.com/1-W81Bz_gS6yf20an7wB-uQ469tl
https://era.org.za/2021/02/08/city-of-joburg-invites-residents-to-community-based-planning-outreach-sessions-20-february-2021/
You can also email your submissions to: cbpinputs@joburg.org.za
There is an Online Community Based Planning Session taking place on the 3rd March and includes our ward. This an opportunity for residents to take part in a planning session on requesting Capital Expenditure projects, as well as seeing what is planned in the 2021/22 Financial Year.
Here is the information on the session should you wish to attend:
Online Community Based Planning Session to be held on Wed 3 March at 5pm
This is for the following wards in Region B: 87, 88, 90, 98, 99, 102, 104 & 117
Click this link to attend the meeting on Wed 3 March: https://bit.ly/36SejzS
NOTE: There is another session for Wards 68, 69, 70, 82, 86 & 89 on Sat 27 Feb at 9am. You are welcome to attend it, but the focus will be on these wards. Click here to attend this meeting: https://bit.ly/2LyoylE
Last Updated: 15th February 2021 by Jenny Grice 1 Comment
Join a City of Joburg Community Based Planning outreach session – 3 March 2021
This is our Ward’s chance to take part in a planning session on requesting Capital Expenditure projects and to see what’s planned in the 2021/22 Financial Year. You can join Ward 88’s meeting online on 3 March at 17h00. (Wards 87, 90, 98, 99, 102, 104 & 117 who are also part of Region B will also attend)
Things that fall under Capital Expenditure include:
So if you want to get a project on the budget radar, this is the meeting you MUST attend.
Click this link to attend the meeting on Wed 3 March: https://bit.ly/36SejzS
Once you click this link, you will see three options:
If you don’t have Microsoft Teams and you don’t want to download the app, click on “Continue on this browser” to enter the meeting.
The agenda of the meeting is as follows:
Agenda
If you can’t make the meeting:
The City has produced a video which gives you a bit of background about the CBP process. Find the link here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FD-WO3KWnk1lKXKISrLLCVqNQ6hCrvFG/view?usp=drivesdk
NOTE: There is another session for Wards 68, 69, 70, 82, 86 & 89 on Sat 27 Feb at 9am. You are welcome to attend it, but the focus will be on these wards. Click here to attend this meeting: https://bit.ly/2LyoylE
Posted: 3rd February 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
ERA mourns the passing of Cassim Boorany
ERA is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Cassim Boorany. Cassim had been on the executive of ERA since 2015 after he had been brought in as an IT expert to help assess all the proposals ERA received from potential fibre service providers. After Vumatel was appointed, he then assisted with the tough job of trying to get residents to give their support to the initiative.
He held the dual portfolios of IT and deputy chairperson and in these roles showed his strong commitment to the community.
“He was a pillar of support in the heated discussions around the proposed development on the corner of Gleneagles Road and Barry Hertzog Avenue,” remembers Geraldine Connell, a past chairperson of ERA.
With his IT know-how, he helped coordinate the huge number of objections (more than 2400) to the Gleneagles/Barry Hertzog development that then had to be submitted to the City. (ERA is still fighting this case at the City’s Tribunal hearing)
Cas often worked behind the scenes – the new website is thanks to him. He worked on the complicated aspects – the set up, the design, the look-and-feel, so that as IT ‘non-experts’, we could take it over and just add new bits to it. Likewise the mailchimp system where we have a database of residents and objectors that we can easily communicate with, is also due to him.
When Covid lockdown hit us all, he organised an on-line AGM so that the AGM could go ahead as required by the Constitution.
He was always the one we turned to when we received an e-mail in IT gobbledygook which he then interpreted for us and advised us on what to do.
Nothing was too difficult for Cas. He always had exciting ideas about how to solve a myriad of problems. Sometimes the solution that he was going to provide could take a long time. This was because his commitments and interests extended across a wide field. For the past 10 years Cas had been involved in workplace investigations, forensic analysis of computers, smartphones and tablets. He was also an arbitrator and mediator and had chaired many disciplinary enquiries and in other situations, represented parties in disciplinary enquiries. Despite all this work he was also studying for an LLB. Little wonder that it could take a while for him to deliver what ERA wanted at no cost to the organisation.
Even though he had resigned towards the end of 2020, he had just recently shared all the IT passwords that ERA would need with us and had assured us that he would always be there when we needed. Such a gesture indicates his generosity of spirit.
Cas was a principled person and had strong views on things and how things should be done. He was not afraid to call us out when he thought we were not taking all issues into account and he always offered additional insight that we often didn’t have. The drafting of a Code of Conduct for Exco members is also thanks to him.
ERA is the poorer for his passing. We will miss him in so many ways. ERA extends our deepest sympathy to his wife and family.
27 January 2021
Last Updated: 26th February 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
Tribunal hearing of 22 January 2021 postponed
The Tribunal hearing to hear argument for and against the proposed mixed use development bounded by Barry Hertzog, Gleneagles and Linden Roads was postponed after one of the City’s planning staff that was to attend the hearing tested positive.
The next sitting of the Tribunal will take place on 12 March 2021.
For more details about the background to the development see here: https://era.org.za/tribunal-on-mixed-use-development-to-resume-january-2021/
Posted: 19th January 2021 by Jenny Grice Leave a Comment
Reminder: Residents and objectors can attend Tribunal hearing on 22 January 2021
Dear Residents and Objectors
We would like to remind all objectors and concerned residents that they can attend the hearing which will take place at the Metro Centre – the room is on the Ground Floor of the Council Chamber Wing and we must be there at 9h30 (you must allow yourself at least 30 minutes to get to the meeting room). We have been assured that the room will have been sanitised and that doors will be open for air circulation. We expect it could continue for the full day. (For more details about the background to the development see here: https://era.org.za/tribunal-on-mixed-use-development-to-resume-january-2021/
Be assured that the ERA and GRA is aware of all the objections you raised and we have been and will continue to do our level best to act in your best interests and those of our beloved suburbs.
Please do not hesitate to contact info@era.org.za or info@gra.org.za should you require any additional information
On behalf of ERA and GRA
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