The decision came after the Department considered various ways in which interested parties could have sufficient viewing points to inspect registered land use applications that have been advertised.

The following options have been put in place for members of the public to view applications:

• Allowing advertisements / notices, with the inclusion of a clause that the owner / agent / applicant will be responsible to provide any interested party, on request, with a copy of such documents.
• Placing of the application documents on a City’s e-platform for access by the public to inspect.
• The members of the public will also have the opportunity to inspect the applications at the City’s Metro Link, which has been identified as the public point of entry for Development Planning walk-in services. A desk will be placed there for interested parties to inspect the applications, only by arrangement and on request.

Further to the above measures, the Department will soon release a notice relating to the extension of the objection period for all land use applications that were advertised; and/or had closing dates for objections that fell within the period of COVID-19 National Lockdown Alert Level 5 and 4 (i.e. 26 March to 31 May 2020).

All applications in this category will be extended with a further 28 days, to allow for sufficient public participation.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning, Cllr Lawrence Khoza, thanked industry stakeholders and residents for their patience, allowing the Department the opportunity to seek efficient ways to provide services during the Lockdown period.

“We do understand the inconvenience caused, and that it posed a challenge for many. We want to re-affirm the Department’s commitment to providing key services,” he said.
MMC Khoza further wished all officials that were in self-isolation at home and were recovering from COVID-19, a speedy recovery.