It is worrying that the City of Tshwane in association with the Gauteng Province is planning to move the victims of the 2022 Mamelodi flood to a site in Cullinan that encompasses several grave sites, with some graves dating back to the 1700s, a wetland and a historical site where a number of forts were built at the time of the Boer War. The ruins of a hospital that was built in 1906 is also on this site.
Should the building of this housing development continue it will have a huge impact on the natural fauna and flora that is found in and around the wetland.
This discovery was made during a recent oversight inspection conducted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the proposed site for the housing development.
See photos here, here, here, here and here.
Furthermore, three failed environmental impact studies have been ignored. Going ahead with this planned development is threatening a delicate ecosystem that serves as a natural water filtration system and wildlife habitat. The proposed development site for relocating the 2022 Mamelodi flood victims encompasses a crucial wetland area that supports diverse fauna and flora species unique to this ecosystem.
It is unacceptable that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) under Premier Panyaza Lesufi is still continuing with the plans to build a housing development, despite the historical and environmental value of this site.
This planned development on this site should be halted with immediate effect and more suitable land should be sought for the proposed relocation of the Mamelodi flood victims.
Consideration must be given to the required infrastructure which will be required in order to humanely accommodate these victims.
Through the mechanisms in place at the Gauteng Provincial Legisature (GPL), the DA will put pressure on the MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, and the MEC for Human Settlements; Tasneem Motara, to immediately halt the development of the new housing project and seek alternate land for the housing development for the Mamelodi flood victims of 2022. The affected residents must be given dignified housing as soon as possible.
Before starting any housing development, a DA-led Provincial Government would implement a mandatory heritage impact assessment, and create a comprehensive ‘Cultural Heritage Registry’ for all historical sites in the Province.