Blouberg, Blaauwberg, Cape Town – South Africa

Melkbosstrand residents fear that the provincial government’s sudden approval of the rezoning of a beachfront residential property will devalue other properties in the area, affect the safety of their children and increase traffic congestion, notes the Cape Times.

They are questioning why – more than two years after they objected to the application – the MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has lifted a title deed restriction prohibiting the use of Erf 194 for business. When the application was first advertised in 2006, there were at least 10 objections to the rezoning of the property for business and the conversion of the house for use as a restaurant. Objector Melt van der Westhuizen said that more than 20 people had submitted objections to the province’s integrated environmental management department and the Milnerton municipal office about the removal of the title deed restriction on the property. Jan de Wet, who acted on behalf of some of the objectors, said objections to the removal of the title deed restriction were upheld in May 2006. But MEC Pierre Uys announced in the September 19 Provincial Gazette that the restriction had been lifted.

originally from: Legalbrief