Land available for development
OUDTSHOORN - A plot of vacant land in Bongolethu, previously used as a tourist attraction, will now be available for development. In a media release, the municipality says the Oudtshoorn Municipal Council resolved to commercialise the vacant land which housed the Xhosa Village for either a commercial complex, new housing units development or a government precinct. “The property will not be alienated and will remain the ownership of the Municipality and the people of the Greater Oudtshoorn.
Part of the process will be to seek inputs from the community that will be advertised soon. We want to encourage our community to participate in this process.” said Executive Mayor, Chris Macpherson.
According to Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, communications officer of the Oudtshoorn Municipality, this decision was taken last month during a special council meeting on 29 April following several developmental items tabled by the Strategic Services Department before the council.
“Council also rescinded its previous decision to utilise this land for tourism activity. The Xhosa Village, that brought tourism attention to Bongolethu Township, was over recent years neglected, vandalised and eventually burnt down in 2020. The Council subsequently decided to demolish the building. The premises, that is valued at R950 000, is seen by Council as land with much development potential.”
The conditions attached to the development proposal for the vacant land are as follows:
Development of a commercial complex, housing units development or government precinct.
A bid for the sale of the land may be considered.
BBBEE composition of the developer. Outline of the construction phases with timelines.
Outline of permanent as well as temporary jobs to be created.
Social contribution to the adjacent community.
A public participation process, especially for the community adjacent to the land, will ensure to get the citizens’ views on the
Council’s proposal.
The Strategic Services are in a process of drafting the proposal which will be advertised on the municipal website and in local newspapers inviting potential developers to utilise the land.