October 11, 2004

By Anna Cox

The construction of the R240-million, mixed-use development at Cosmo City, north of Randburg, will finally start on November 1 - if Gauteng Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane gets her way.

Mokonyane yesterday declared the project, which has been stalled by years of wrangling with neighbouring residents, officially launched.

Addressing hundreds of cheering supporters, she said about 16 000 housing units would be constructed.

Neighbouring residents are, however, not giving up their long-running legal battle to thwart the development, saying the MEC's announcement was a "declaration of war"

They are considering obtaining an interdict to stop the development, saying the legal processes have not been completed.

But Mokonyane slammed the neighbouring residents, saying they were the ones who had prevented Cosmo City from being built for the past six years.

"If they call this war, then war it is. We are declaring war against racism and against those who are opposing this development and those who have money to fight it ..."

"In this democratic country, everyone has the right to do that, but we will fight to the bitter end. We want to bring back the dignity of African people," she said.

Thousands of people had been living in Zevenfontein illegally, with no security of tenure, no basic water and sanitation, using pit toilets, candles and paraffin, suffering from cholera and TB and isolated from major economic nodes, she said.

Cosmo City will be giving housing preference to those living in the Zevenfontein and River Bend informal settlements.

Residents belonging to the Jukskei Crocodile Catchment Area Association (JCCA) said they would be consulting with their fellow members to see whether to proceed with legal action and seek a review of both the Town Planning Board and the Townships Board's decisions to approve the development. They would also consider seeking an interdict to stop the development in the meantime.

The Three Rivers Residents' Association, however, said it was not their intention to stop the development but merely to ensure that it was done in a responsible way, in which all would benefit.

"It has, however, been our contention that the project was agreed upon years ago, before any information was even available to make this decision," said residents' association spokesperson Charmaine Zambetti.

Their concerns are traffic conditions; environmental issues; lack of control by the City of Johannesburg; uncontrolled invasions where invaders are rewarded with free houses; and illegal businesses.

Redmond Orpen, of the JCCA, said his association had no problem with low-cost housing, but the judicial reviews would be sought because residents had never been afforded the opportunity to state their case in court.

Residents claim the development will devalue property in the area by R473-million.

They also say the area is eco-sensitive because it contains steenbok, mongooses, bullfrogs, 12 red-data animal species, 57 bird species, brown hyenas, striped mice, owls and jackals, and that there are wetlands which need protection.

Developers have assured residents that Cosmo City would not become another informal shack area. The 1 100-hectare area will be home to about 70 000 people.

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