Wonderfontein Development Halted

The Wonderfontein Development Halted, this follows a successful legal bid brought forward by AfriForum in Metsimaholo.

Wonderfontein Development Halted: AfriForum Takes Legal Action

The controversial Wonderfontein development, planned between Sasolburg and Vanderbijlpark, has officially been halted following a legal intervention by AfriForum. This development faced a halt after AfriForum took legal action against both the Metsimaholo Municipality and the Department of Human Settlements, challenging its legality.

In a significant turn of events, the Metsimaholo Local Municipality confirmed the cessation of the development in a letter addressed to AfriForum. The communication also included a directive from the Department of Human Settlements, instructing the municipality to immediately suspend all development activities. This halt is in place until the necessary compliance measures, as outlined by the tribunal, are fully met. Furthermore, the Department clarified that the ongoing work in the area is aimed at securing the site.

Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s Regional Head for the Central Region, expressed satisfaction with the court ruling, calling it a win not only for the local community but also for the environment. “From the start, we believed that if the municipality adhered to the required compliance measures, it would ultimately benefit the community. However, their unwillingness to meet these standards left us no choice but to intervene. The development posed a significant risk to both the environment and the safety of local residents,” Grobbelaar said. “We are pleased to have stopped this reckless development, and AfriForum will continue to monitor similar cases in the future, stepping in whenever necessary.”

The legal action taken by AfriForum highlights the importance of ensuring that local authorities comply with environmental and safety regulations, as well as the need for responsible urban development.

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