East London’s only go-kart track and theme park, which doubles as a popular party hire venue which has brought the likes of DJ Black Coffee to the city, is facing closure.
A year after opening for business, Drifter’s Raceway owner Luvuyo Mpambane was served a letter by Buffalo City Metro’s lawyers saying his business was illegal as the land was incorrectly zoned.
Leased from Transnet, the land is zoned for transport.
In the letter, dated September 30, Mpambane was told to shut down.
“Our client advises that you are currently operating an illegal business, including a pub, go-karts, quad biking and paintball games on the premises,” the letter reads.
“Our client has now instructed us to approach the East London High Court to obtain an interdict to prohibit you from contravening the Buffalo City Zoning Scheme.
We hereby give you 15 days to stop the above illegal activity and provide us with a written undertaking not to re-commence the illegal activity again, failing which we will proceed with legal action.”
Mpambane said he had since forwarded the letter to his lawyers.
“Before I opened I visited BCM’s town planning department to apply for a permit. The official I spoke to told me the business falls under transport so I could go ahead, which I did,” he said.
Since the letter had been served, Mpambane had revisited the department and was told a member of the public had lodged a complaint.
“But they wouldn’t tell me who it is, saying it goes against their policies to reveal such information. It’s not like I’m selling drugs here. This is a children’s play park.
“I have also created jobs, boosting the local economy. If I close, all of these people will become unemployed. I also helped the city by clearing away the bushes that were used as a criminal hide-out.
“Now people are safe to walk past here to catch the train without fear of being attacked.
“If BCM felt I’m doing something wrong, they should have sent an official here to guide me instead of closing me down.”
Mpambane said other businesses operating on the same land included a spaza shop and one selling Wendy houses.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi declined to comment, saying it was a legal matter.
“The matter is now being handled by our legal department,” he said.
Mpambane said before he opened Drifters, there had been a nursery and a brickmaking company on the site. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Go-kart track runs foul of BCM zone
A year after opening for business, Drifter’s Raceway owner Luvuyo Mpambane was served a letter by Buffalo City Metro’s lawyers saying his business was illegal as the land was incorrectly zoned.
Leased from Transnet, the land is zoned for transport.
In the letter, dated September 30, Mpambane was told to shut down.
“Our client advises that you are currently operating an illegal business, including a pub, go-karts, quad biking and paintball games on the premises,” the letter reads.
“Our client has now instructed us to approach the East London High Court to obtain an interdict to prohibit you from contravening the Buffalo City Zoning Scheme.
We hereby give you 15 days to stop the above illegal activity and provide us with a written undertaking not to re-commence the illegal activity again, failing which we will proceed with legal action.”
Mpambane said he had since forwarded the letter to his lawyers.
“Before I opened I visited BCM’s town planning department to apply for a permit. The official I spoke to told me the business falls under transport so I could go ahead, which I did,” he said.
Since the letter had been served, Mpambane had revisited the department and was told a member of the public had lodged a complaint.
“But they wouldn’t tell me who it is, saying it goes against their policies to reveal such information. It’s not like I’m selling drugs here. This is a children’s play park.
“I have also created jobs, boosting the local economy. If I close, all of these people will become unemployed. I also helped the city by clearing away the bushes that were used as a criminal hide-out.
“Now people are safe to walk past here to catch the train without fear of being attacked.
“If BCM felt I’m doing something wrong, they should have sent an official here to guide me instead of closing me down.”
Mpambane said other businesses operating on the same land included a spaza shop and one selling Wendy houses.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi declined to comment, saying it was a legal matter.
“The matter is now being handled by our legal department,” he said.
Mpambane said before he opened Drifters, there had been a nursery and a brickmaking company on the site. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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