GEORGE NEWS - Two prime pieces of open land in King George Park could be changing hands for R1 per erf.
The erven, that are close to the George CBD, near the golf course and behind Die Bult School, have a splendid panoramic view of the Outeniqua Mountains.
A notice in the legals advertisemants of the Cape Times dated Friday 23 September under the heading 'Notice of Proposed Disposal of Provincial State Land' states that the Western Cape Government "proposes to dispose of erven 21028 (3,252 hectares) and 21029 (0,857 hectares) to Power Construction (Pty) Ltd at a nominal amount of R1 (One Rand) per erf for Human Settlements."
PBI Cllr Virgil Gericke said he has been approached by local contractors who are questioning why a Cape Town company was given the land.
"My contacts say they never saw the advert in the George Herald and want to know why it was only in the Cape Town newspapers."
According to Gericke's understanding the specific land is not earmarked for housing.
"The area is not included in the housing pipeline for George. I am curious to know what process was followed. I smell a rat here," said Gericke.
Several requests for information were sent over a period of weeks to the Department of Public Works who, as owner of the land, was expected to attend to the matter.
A response was received late on Tuesday - from the Department of Human Settlements.
Muneera Allie, spokesperson for the Department of Human Settlements, says the phrase "Proposed Disposal of Provincial State Land" means that the Western Cape Government has identified well-located vacant land in its ownership for "affordable housing".
Allie confirmed that the land was put out on tender via a proposal call to developers in the Cape Times, Die Burger, Vukani and locally in Idinga in Xhosa.
He explained, "The land is being made available to the developer at a nominal value in order to make the eventual housing units more affordable to the target market - those families with a joint income of up to R15 000 per month.
The piece of open land close to the CBD.
"In terms of the land availability agreement, which must still be completed, the property can only be transferred to the developer after the developer obtained development rights, town planning and environmental authorisation.
"The transfer of the property to the developer is needed by the developer as security to obtain a development loan to develop the property.
"Conditions will be taken up in the title deed that the property can only be used for affordable housing to safeguard the Provincial Government.
"Power Construction tendered for the George properties."
Prime open land in King George Park that could be changing hands for R1 per erf.
Nick Ferreira, Senior Developments manager at Power Construction, was contacted for comment.
Ferreira said, "The process has not been finalised, so I can't comment."
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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