Black-Africans offered best deals as land-sites go on sale in Middelburg:
Opposition parties slam racial discrimination against minority groups : "I cannot vote on an item which does not clearly define the word 'African'. Does it mean black? If it does then what about Coloureds? and Indians?"
MIDDELBURG - 9 December 2013 Yaseen Gaffar
The approval to put hundreds of erven (land sites) for sale in areas such as Aerorand, Dennesig and the adjacent new development of Extension 13, and in Rockdale (adjacent to Extension 24 on the Hendrina road) was a hot topic of debate during a Council meeting held on Tuesday evening at the Nasaret Community Hall.
Congress of the People as well as the Democratic Alliance expressed both difference in view as well as disappointment - and were particular distressed about a council resolution that erven will be sold to "local African residents at 50% of the market value, Other local residents at 70% of the market value and to Other applicants at 100% of the market value."
DA Councillor Jos Pretorius stated that a discount price should be made applicable to all residents that does not differentiate between race and groups.
"Please keep in mind the 'Born Free' generation who were born after 1994 in the new democratic South Africa. They must be treated accordingly," Cllr Pretorius pointed out.
He then put forward a counter proposal, supported by the DA, which asked for the item to be amended in such a way that the sale of erven does not discriminate against any particular race group.
The matter was put to a vote, which needless to say was overruled by the ANC and the item was resolved without any amendments.
Cllr Ben Mokoena of COPE, however, abstained from the vote and left the meeting until the process was completed - as required in Council's Rules of Order.
He later stated that the resolution was "deliberately excluding members of our community".
"I cannot vote on an item which does not clearly define the word 'African'. Does it mean black? If it does then what about Coloureds? and Indians?" he asked.
"The Congress of the People condemns the declassification of Coloureds, Indians and Whites as non-Africans. This is what the decision effectively means and simply put it boils down to racism by ANC Councillors." Cllr Mokoena stated.
"They are motivated by a desire to discriminate on racial grounds and to make sure that children of other race groups do not have access to land and resources generally. In our opinion this is taking is back to the dark days of apartheid when race determines status and role in society".
He stated that COPE will host community meetings in Nasaret on 10 December and Eastdene on 11 December to work out 'strategies to fight neo-racism'. Both meetings will start at 18:00.
For more information about the community meetings contact 082 350 3574 or 073 068 6971.
• The resolution approved the sale of at least five fully serviced stands in Aerorand at an average price of R320 000 each, 26 fully serviced stands in Extension 13 (Dennesig) at an average price of R250 000 each, 27 stands in Aerorand that will be fully serviced before the end of the year at an average price of R260 000 each, 105 stands in Aerorand that will be fully serviced by March 2014 at an average price of R270 000 each, and at least 386 stands in Rockdale at an average price of R30 000 each.
The stands will be sold for cash and will be revalued in July 2014 if not alienated.With regards to the erven in Rockdale it was resolved that the stands will only be made available to people who have never owned/ acquired nor allocated immovable property before by means of purchasing through the RDP system.
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/middelburg/middelburg-property-article-listing?oid=8007914&sn=Detail&pid=4979893&Africans-get-the-best-deal-as-Erven-go-on-sale-
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