MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Makhado Municipal Council decided to go ahead with the highly controversial and much-publicised rezoning and development of the town's sportsgrounds.

Council's Executive Committee took this decision during their ninety sixth meeting. Decision-making in this regard now falls within Exco's power, after a Council resolution to this effect.

Council's intent to rezone the town's existing sportsgrounds to business property a couple of months ago caused a huge public outcry. The controversy culminated in a meeting between objectors and Council on June 20 this year at Council's chambers. The meeting was called by Council to listen to objections regarding the proposed rezoning. Many residents feel that any development outside the existing Central Business Area will in effect destroy the existing CBD.

During the meeting in June, Mr Adriaan Venter from Roestoff, Venter & Kruse in Hatfield, who acted on behalf of some eighty members of the local business community, literally had a field day in taking apart Council's motivation and the procedures they follow. Mr Venter is an expert in the field of town planning and development. The meeting ended with a remark by the former mayor of Makhado, Cllr Brighton Tlakula, that Exco will sit down and review the matter as Mr Venter had presented good arguments. He also remarked, however, that despite Mr Venter's arguments, it was still Exco which would have to decide on the matter. Following Exco's decision to go ahead with the rezoning, the mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Rhulani Nkuzana, was asked on Friday (10th) what had prompted Council's decision to rezone this area. Cllr Nkuzana stated that the decision was firstly a political one, as job creation is a political issue, and secondly, a developmental one.

In reaction to Exco's decision, Mr Kerneels Kern, who initially called in the expertise of Mr Venter, said on Tuesday that he would consult with his clients to get instruction from them as to what to do next. Whatever is decided, Mr Kern said, will be conveyed to Mr Venter. It is, however, clear that the fight over the rezoning of the sportsgrounds is far from over.