Outcry over Jhb planning delays

R100M LOSS: PROPERTY DELAYS AFFECT DEVELOPER

Words like ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘broken’ are being thrown around.

possible loss of major private sector investment, but ultimately a loss in GDP, as well as in rates and taxes for the city.

“Words like ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘broken’ are being thrown around by the local town planning fraternity regarding the situation within the city’s development planning office. Many of our members are becoming frustrated and would rather take their investments to other cities … This is a serious issue.”

Lloyd Druce, town planning stalwart and Joburg chair of the Association of Town and Regional Planners, was also scathing. “The situation has never been worse. I have 35 years of experience dealing with town planning in the city, and fit seems as though the delays and problems in the town planning department have gotten worse since the DA took over. Things are dysfunctional. It comes down to poor management.”

Druce said he met the city’s MMC for Development Planning, Reuben Masango, earlier this year regarding industry frustrations and presented him with a memorandum. “But it does not seem as if they are taking our concerns seriously. We are now working with Sapoa, who have endorsed our memorandum. The delays and problems in the planning and related departments are so deep-rooted and complex that we need leadership and political intervention from mayor Herman Mashaba and the city committees that deal with town planning and infrastructure-related issues.”

Both Druce and Gopal recently met the city’s new executive director of development planning, Amolemo Mothoagae, on finding solutions.

Gopal said: “The World Bank is now working with the CoJ on the problem and we hope to see positives come out of it.”

Mashaba said he would look into the matter and referred Moneyweb to Masango.

Masango said the department is closely examining its applications processes to look at the root causes of the delays and put in measures to improve turnaround times.

Masango said CoJ was approaching the challenges in the planning applications process in a multi-pronged manner. It’s also working with Treasury and the World Bank in the Ease of Doing Business study.