The City of Tshwane says it followed due process with the application from a sports club for the development of a high performance centre in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
This follows the outrage of concerned groups and organisations when they learned that the City council granted approval for a part of the Reserve to be developed.
The Supersport United soccer club wants to build a high performance centre, including accommodation and offices, on the western side of the Reserve.
"The City of Tshwane received an application from Supersport United for the alienation of a portion of Rietvlei,” said City of Tshwane spokesperson Nomasonto Ndlovu.
According to Ndlovu the application was processed in terms of the City’s Strategic Investment and Aftercare policy as approved by Council.
“The report was approved by Mayoral Committee in terms of municipal asset transfer regulation and section 14 of the Municipal Finance Management Act. The Council approved the report at the end of May 2012,” she said.
The City will now advertise the decision of Council in the local newspapers for public comments.
Once comments are received, says Ndlovu, the report will either serve before Council or be subject to the City’s Land Alienation policy and the supply chain management.
“Once the abovementioned processes are finalised, an application in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and Town Planning Ordinance will be submitted.
“This will be an opportunity where issues raised like the de-proclamation of the Nature Reserve and the environmental issues will be dealt with,” said Ndlovu.
She also said it was too early for members of the community to raise those developmental issues, as the application was still dealing with the alienation of the property.
“This will enable the development process which amongst others, it will deal with all the concerns raised."
Friends of the Rietvlei chairperson, Kobus Engelbrecht, said an official complaint was submitted to the City.
“The law requires that Council responds to our complaint within four weeks after it has been submitted,” he said.
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