Le Grand geteiken vir 9 000 'grand'

Update

GEORGE NUUS - Die ontwikkelaars van die Le Grand leefstylontwikkeling, die Gouws Group gee aandag aan die griewe van lede van die gemeenskap.

Die groep het Dinsdagaand 'n volledige verklaring aan George Herald beskikbaar gestel na aanleiding van die jongste woelinge rondom die ontwikkeling.

Dit volg nadat verteenwoordigers van die gemeenskap en minstens twee politieke partye, die PBI en Good, Saterdag 24 September by die hekke van Le Grand aan 'n plakkaatprotes deelgeneem het.

Hulle wil hê dat die nuwe eienaars hul ooreenkoms met die vorige eienaars, waarvolgens R10 miljoen aan die gemeenskap bewillig is vir die Pacaltsdorp-gemeenskap, nagekom word. Volgens die gemeenskapsleiers is meer as R9 miljoen nog uitstaande.

Die gegriefdes het antwoorde van die huiseienaarsvereniging en ontwikkelaars geëis in 'n memorandum van eise. Dit is oorhandig aan Fred Barnard, 'n inwonende direkteur van die huiseienaarsvereniging. Die huiseienaarsvereniging en ontwikkelaars is 14 dae tyd gegee om te reageer.

Luidens die Gouws Group se verklaring het hulle kennis geneem van die hernieude belangstelling in die ontwikkeling. Die vorige eienaars het bankrot gespeel en soos voorheen aangedui, is die nuwe ontwikkelaars verbind tot die ontwikkeling van die projek, asook om formeel in gesprek te tree met die munisipale en provinsiale owerhede.

Hulle wil aan die regs- en amptelike prosesse voldoen en het die versekering gegee dat die frustrasies en wense die nodige aandag sal kry.

As deel van die groep se verbintenis is daar die eerste gesprekvoering met die demokraties verkose plaaslike verteenwoordigers en die munisipale en provinsiale owerhede.
Virgill Gericke, PBI-leier, het Saterdag gesê die gemeenskap wil hê die aangeleentheid moet uitgesorteer word. Hy het benadruk hulle is nie daar om Le Grand aan te val nie. "Ons is hier om die kant van die gemeenskap te stel."

Gericke het gister (Woensdag) gesê hulle het nog niks formeel van die ontwikkelaars ontvang nie. "Daar is 'n dwingende noodsaaklikheid dat die ontwikkelaars en die verteenwoordigers van die gemeenskap om 'n tafel gaan sit voordat dinge lelik raak.

"Ons volstaan dat as ons binne 14 dae geen reaksie ontvang nie, ons stappe sal neem vir 'n kriminele ondersoek en die aangeleentheid na die Openbare Beskermer verwys."
Volgens hom het hulle reeds verskeie oproepe van huidige inwoners ontvang wat ongelukkig is met die huidige toedrag van sake.

Donovan Saptoe, 'n streekleier van Good, het Woensdag die hoop uitgespreek dat die ontwikkelaars positief sal reageer sodat die aangeleentheid opgelos kan word.
Volgens hom is 'n dringende gesprek met die ontwikkelaars noodsaaklik.

Virgill Gericke Saterdag aan die woord by die hek van Le Grand.
Foto's: Eugene Gunning

GOUWS GROUP SE VOLLEDIGE VERKLARING (onveranderd):
Open and public response to Community leaders, Community based organisations, Good, PBI, PDI and community activists and interested parties, Public response from the Developers of the Le Grand property development to the lists of demands by various interest groups from the Pacaltsdorp and surrounding communities and areas.
Since 2018 the Gouws Group (Group) is the official developers of the Le Grand property development. The Group took note of the recent renewed interest in the Le Grand development by the larger George and surrounding communities and the media. As per the signature of the Group’s authorised representative the Group also acknowledges receipt of, and appreciation for the 24 September 2022 Memorandum of demands that was given by the PBI, GOOD and Community of Pacaltsdorp without prejudice to rights. The Group also confirms and acknowledges recent engagements with other community-based organisations and stakeholders who shared their frustrations with the lack of progress since 2009 in the area of Le Grand Development. Many of these engagements and lists addressed similar matters of urgency and demands. The status of the different organisations that engaged with the Group is not addressed in this document as some of the organisations who represented themselves during the discussions, meetings or get-togethers to address some of the historic issues, did not exist during the 2009 to 2018 era of the Le Grand development. The Group, however, took note of all the demands, frustrations and lists of wishes that were shared during the different platforms that were created for community discussions. Since the previous owners went bankrupt, and as stated publicly before, the Group remains committed to the development project and will formally engage with the municipal and provincial authorities to ensure proper procedures to ensure alignment with all legal and official processes. This will include the ROD as well as other provincial and municipal guidelines for property development in the area. For example, towards this commitment, the Group already accepted the results of the disruptive and hugely impactful guideline that the golf course will not be allowed on the allocated land, anymore. To address this disruption, the Group is already in consultation with professional teams and the municipality to establish preferred and beneficial options for involved stakeholders. Based on the current legal uncertainties and changes that are part of the official processes, it will, other than to consider all proposals, be bias of the Group to reject or exclude any of the suggestions that were tabled earlier or on 24 September 2022. The Group remains committed to the most practical and preferred benefits to all stakeholders as well as the Pacaltsdorp and surrounding communities. This is mentioned as at the moment some community organisations who did not wish to participate in the ceremony to hand over the demands dated 24 September 2022, engaged with the Group to ensure that their wishes and demands will still be equally treated. The Group again confirm that, without analysing the detail of any demands that were received on 24 September 2022, all frustrations and wishes will receive the necessary attention. Many diverse demands were tabled with various ‘owners’ of the so-called promises and benefits. These matters will be addressed without fear or favour to the benefit of the community at large.
Further to this, the Group took note of a number of personal threats and allegations of unlawful and racist behaviour by some groups and individuals. All individuals and groups are encouraged to address these matters though the lawful and official channels. Towards this example, the Group already took some of the matters to court to establish correct and true facts. The Group again confirm that they engaged in the process to ensure a long-term sustainable development project that adhere to all official guidelines and regulations applicable to the future Le Grand development. These decisions had to address vast impacts on the business plans to ensure workable and sustainable development opportunities. In this regard the Group tabled a formal proposal for assistance to construct the road to the Gwaiing River Mouth and we hope that the local ward councilor will, in due time be able to announce progress on this project. Further to this, the Group remains committed to the objectives of the future Le Grand development project and is guided by all official processes to ensure the positive interests of all involved role players and stake holders. Towards this aim, the Group started and is constantly engaged with the municipal and provincial structures to affect all the outstanding essentials. This process unfortunately takes a long time as many interests are involved and once the basic and official processes are completed, the Group will anew engage with role players and stake holders to share the new vision, business plans and the practical, sustainable and affordable way forward. It is the Groups’ commitment, as a first step, to continue engagement with the democratically elected local representatives and the official municipal structures and provincial authorities. Although the official processes and timelines are testing, the Group is excited about the small steps of progress that were already achieved and will keep the community at large informed as soon as the significant progress is official.

DIE GEMEENSKAP SE MEMORANDUM VAN EISE (ONVERANDERD)Memorandum of demands
(Without prejudice to rights)
24 September 2022
To: The Management of Le Grand Development
On the 24th of September 2022,

Good,……………………………

PBI,………………………………

PDI,……………………………..

And Community activists and members (signed underneath) deliver this memorandum to the Le Grand Development.
We the PBI, Good and the Community of Pacaltsdorp have noted with concern over the last couple of years, that you, the owners and developers of Le Grand Estate, have not adhered to the Record of Decision (ROD) and the agreement between the Pacaltsdorp Development Initiative (PDI) and Broad Brush Investments (BBI). This ROD and agreement were essential prior to the approval of the development.
We hereby give you notice that we will not tolerate this behaviour where the rights of the community were infringed beyond human dignity, and we will endeavour to have the situation rectified at the highest court if need be.
We are perplexed that after we exhausted every possible avenue, you still acted unilaterally by not attempting to honour the decisions that was taken and articulated in the Record of Decision (ROD) for this development.
We take note of the fact that the development changed hands during the last couple of years, but we want to inform you that the development was bought with current assets and liabilities at an arm’s length transaction. This cannot be ignored and must be honoured. Failure to honour this agreement will give us no other option but to reach out to the highest court in our country in order to restore our rights as the citizens of Pacaltsdorp.
It is evident in your actions that you have no regard for the law and the Constitution of our beloved country. That is why we as the PBI, Good and the community have decided to rise, protest and picket to demand an end to your unlawful and racist behaviour against our communities.
This document contains a list of demands to your organisation. Our aim is to demand that our rights as citizens of Pacaltsdorp are protected, free from fear, violence and that our rights are upheld as enshrined in the Constitution and in the ROD.
WE DEMAND THAT LE GRAND DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENT THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROD AS WAS AGREED UPON IN 2006. DEADLINE: IMMEDIATELY
That Le Grand Development honours the conditions of the ROD that includes, inter alia the following:
• That the outstanding balance of the R10 Million social contribution be paid over immediately to the PDI (Pacaltsdorp Development Initiative). Currently only more that R900 000 has been paid. This was one of the conditions in the ROD that has been blatantly disregarded to the detriment of our community.
• That the 59 houses that was earmarked for the community be built immediately as was agreed upon in the ROD. Promises were made and an expectation was created when negotiations to this effect was concluded with Broad Brush Incorporated (BBI) as the developers for Le Grand.
• That the establishment of the Old Age Home that was agreed upon in the ROD be started immediately. This condition in the ROD created an expectation with our senior residents of Pacaltsdorp who are sometimes left destitute due to current living conditions.
• That the road from Pacaltsdorp Police Station to Gwaiing River Mouth be tarred as a matter of urgency as this is a condition of the ROD. This responsibility cannot be shifted to the George Municipality as the Municipality was not a party to the agreement between the PDI and BBI.
• That the sewer line that was to be built in 2012 be started immediately as the current situation places unnecessary pressure on the current infrastructure for our community. This is a total disregard for our rights as citizens of Pacaltsdorp who negotiated in good faith with the BBI before your establishment was approved.

We further demand that effect is given to all other terms and conditions of the original ROD. Failure to meet the terms and conditions will compel the minister, in terms of relevant clauses, to revoke the ROD and cancel the development.
Signed on this 24th day of September 2022 at George.