New row about Gupta ‘monstrosity’

Published Feb 13, 2016

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Johannesburg - Another showdown is looming between irate residents of the upmarket Joburg suburb of Saxonwold and the embattled Gupta family over an “illegally built” mansion in their multimillion-rand compound.

However, in some good news for the family, Judge Johan Louw of the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria said on Friday that no reasonable, right-thinking person would consider the utterances made by Julius Malema against the Gupta family and their employees as mere campaigning for the upcoming elections, and not a threat of violence.

Read:  Why judge granted Gupta gag order

He was giving his reasons for this week interdicting Malema and the EFF from threatening or inciting violence against the Gupta family and their employees.

In terms of the order, Malema and his party members may not refer to the Gupta family ever again in a threatening or derogatory manner.

Returning to the housing issue, nearly three years after Joburg’s planning committee rejected the family’s application to legalise “illegal” extensions to 7 Saxonwold Drive, they are once again applying to the City of Johannesburg to amend the town-planning scheme to give the mansion the green light.

Read:  Malema to fight Guptas gag order

In its recent notice of application for the amendment of the town-planning scheme, the family alerts residents that it has applied to the city council “to rezone the property situated at 7 Saxonwold Drive from ‘Residential 1’ subject to conditions to ‘Residential 1’ subject to further conditions”.

“The Guptas continue to occupy these dwellings without any consequence,” claimed one angry neighbour. “They live and entertain guests, including government ministers, in the illegal buildings.

Read:  Guptas a symbol of Zuma’s failing rule?

“The city is aware of the contravention, but continues to turn a blind eye. The buildings represent an illegal action by the owner and are punishable by law as a criminal offence. The council should have followed due process and instructed that the illegal building be demolished, but instead they have given the Guptas another chance to make another application, effectively giving them more time to continue to occupy their illegal premises.”

The Guptas had previously come under fire from their neighbours over illegal alterations, including the fact that the size of the building footprint on 7 Saxonwold Drive was 170m2 more than that allowed by the scheme. Other violations included height restrictions, contraventions of the Architects Act, and the number of dwelling units per site.

Some had demanded compensation for the “loss of value, privacy and amenity” to their homes and lifestyles, complaining they were no longer able to enjoy their pools and gardens owing to the “triple-storey monstrosity”.

The resident said it seemed as if the family held “extraordinary power” over the council. “They continue to enjoy extraordinary privileges that are clearly denied to others who break the law.”

Another resident agreed: “Nothing has been done. Why were they allowed to enjoy the building for nearly the past three years without consequence? They park their vehicles on the pavement at all hours every day.”

Nthatisisi Modingoane, who did not respond to the Saturday Star in time, had previously stated that if the preceding rezoning application was unsuccessful, the owners would have to remove the deviations so their house “reverts back to the original approved state”.

Tessa Turvey, of the Saxonwold and Parkwood Residents’ Association, said the Guptas had lodged an appeal with the provincial government more than two years ago after their application was rejected.

“But then they put in this application while the appeal was still at province… We then informed the council they had this appeal.

“They can’t have two applications for the same property going at the same time. They’ve now withdrawn their appeal and have now… just figured out another way to apply for the same property and are in essence still trying to legalise the illegal property.”

 

Gary Naidoo, spokesman for the Gupta family, did not respond to the Saturday Star, but previously said all building regulations were complied with when the dwelling was completed.

Saturday Star

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