ADVERTISEMENT:

 

 
 

Proposed sale of land not a done deal yet

Date: 01 February 2016 By: Isabel Venter

Following a report last week on the development of Makhado Crossing in Louis Trichardt, the Makhado Municipality has shed some more light on the situation.

The municipality was asked to comment on a stakeholders meeting that was held on 18 January, during which it had been asserted that the proposed sale of land was a done deal and that the developer planned to break ground by September this year to develop a new regional mall.

Municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi this week said that the sale of the property, earmarked for the development, has not taken place yet. He was asked last week to confirm the sale amount paid by the buyer, the Masingita Group of Companies. “Procedures outlined in the Council resolution will be followed, which includes among other things, the appointment of a professional valuer, who will determine the purchase price for the affected portion of land for the envisaged development of the regional mall,” said Bobodi in an email to the newspaper.

“The meeting held with the sporting clubs agreed that there is a need for a short-medium and long-term plan, which will be developed by the municipality, the sporting codes and the Masingita Group of Companies to ensure that possible safety and access issues are addressed,” he further added.

Currently, the area earmarked for the sale houses the town’s rugby fields, the squash, gymnastics and wrestling club buildings, the sports hall and netball fields.

Bobodi did not comment on the fact that during the first meeting, the CEO of Masingita, Mr Timothy Phiri, had indicated that it was Masingita’s intention to break ground on the extension of the Makhado Crossing by September this year.

With regards to questions on whether or not the municipality had given any consideration to other properties for the relocation of the clubs, Bobodi said the following; “A meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Ratepayer’s Association agreed that the sporting codes will meet and discuss possible alternative options for sporting codes like squash and submit a separate request to the municipality for further consideration … currently the Makhado Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) identifies the area next to the showgrounds as the available option for the development of alternative sporting facilities.”

In the meantime the municipality has, during the first meeting, asked that the sport clubs who were in attendance, submit their relocation plans by this coming Monday. The time and place of this meeting had not been published at the time of going to press.

 
 
 

Viewed: 1600

 

 
 

Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

 
 

More photos... 

ADVERTISEMENT

 
 

ADVERTISEMENT:

 
 

ADVERTISEMENT