The DA maintains that the metro is losing the battle against illegal land and building use, as funded posts in the City Planning and Building Inspectorate remain vacant on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n
According to DA spokesperson for city planning, Clr Heather Hart, the Department of City Planning is the custodian of the developed environment.<\/p>
Based on this fact the City Planning and Building Inspectorate personnel are critical in ensuring compliance with city planning by-laws and building regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently the department has over 60 funded vacancies.<\/p>
\u201cThis puts undue pressure on existing staff, leaving the metro at the mercy of residents and developers who either do not know the relevant legislation or deliberately ignore them in the knowledge that there will be no repercussions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MMC of City Planning, Clr Masele Madihlaba, is fully aware of the impact of illegal land use, illegal buildings and illegal outdoor advertising.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is dependent upon the metro\u2019s Human Resources Department to not only speed up its current audit on metro staff to eradicate ghost posts and for the city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, to unfreeze recruitment of funded vacant positions,\u201d said Hart.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Residents tired of poor infrastructure in Marlands<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Furthermore, the DA claims that efforts by the DA City Planning Oversight Committee to get these posts unfrozen have been met with ongoing resistance.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, positions have been filled within the mayor\u2019s office, the mayoral committee member\u2019s offices and even that of the city manager.<\/p>\n \u201cFurthermore, the metro continues to pursue investment prospects but ignores the negative impact that the underperforming Department of City Planning is having on the developed environment be that in the residential, commercial or industrial areas.<\/p>\n \u201cThe DA will continue to raise this issue as part of its oversight role to ensure that the metro empowers its departments to better serve its law-abiding rate paying residents, business owners and industrialists,” Hart added.<\/p>\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Metro brings healthcare services to informal settlements<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Comments received by the GCN from the metro state that the number of vacancies in the Department of City Planning currently stands at 86 out of 360 funded posts.<\/p>\n The vacant posts range from clerks to divisional heads.<\/p>\n Some posts are due to recent retirements and resignations, while some have been vacant from as far back as 2016.<\/p>\n \u201cThe posts are vacant due to the metro\u2019s new organisational structure.<\/p>\n \u201cExisting positions are migrated from the old structure to the new structure first.<\/p>\n \u201cSecondly, as soon as these processes are completed, remaining vacancies will be filled.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Placement Committee will finalise it within the next few weeks,\u201d said Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n