Although they say there has always been a backlog when it comes to processing township applications and other approvals for developments, it is now impossible to get anything done.

"With these latest resignations they might as well close down the town planning department. Now it’s not functional at all. It is an absolute nightmare," says one irate developer, who did not wish to be named

He says developers are "sitting" with hundreds of millions of rand in potential and current developments and that this latest blow to the department will "affect the profits of developers".

"The end user ends up paying for it because a developer will be forced to hike the price (of units) so he can make a profit."

The developer says they cannot get township or rezoning applications passed.

He says that in Sandton there were 12 town planners, and that eight resigned.

"Developers can’t even submit applications. I went into town planning (at the City of Johannesburg) to submit a rezoning applications, and was told they cannot accept the application as there was no one who could deal with it. It’s really a joke."

Another developer, who also did not want to be named, says because of the existing backlogs developers are already being forced to take "undue risks" by starting without full approvals from Johannesburg council.

Brian Kirchmann, CEO of commercial property association Sapoa, says staff shortages in the town planning department have been "a problem for a long time".

"There appears to be insufficient resources to handle all the town planning," says Kirchmann.

He also questions whether there is sufficient expertise with regards town planning in the various nodes of Johannesburg

Kirchmann cites the example of Sandton, saying that it was originally planned as a retail node with residential development around it.

"However, the centre of Sandton has grown exponentially and is under tremendous strain to handle all the additional usage of the infrastructure such as water, sewerage, power and roads," says Kirchmann.

He says that some years ago Sapoa assisted the municipality when it had backlogs in the town planning department.

"We asked for their town planners to work overtime and we said we would pay the overtime fees and we did," says Kirchmann. "Within a few weeks the backlog was sorted out," he says.

Kirchmann says Sapoa would be happy to work with the town planning department. However, he says that when Sapoa has offered to assist the City of Johannesburg, they were "sidelined".

"We are totally frustrated."

Kirchmann says if government worked with Sapoa, Johannesburg would have a much more regulated and responsible town planning system.

Johannesburg municipality was unavailable for comment.