TRANSNET has been lambasted for being “selfish, greedy and unpatriotic” by withholding the central Sleeper site and prime beach front land from Buffalo City Metro.
This was said by organised regional business and a senior University of Fort Hare (UFH) aca demic.
Their comments reflect a growing body of Eastern Cape complaint sentiment against Transnet chief ex ecutive Brian Molefe for not accepting offers made last year by BCM. Buffalo City Metro.
University of Fort Hare (UFH ) vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom last week said on a public dialogue platform shared by Cab inet ministers Trevor Manuel and Gugile Nkwinti: “Transnet just needs to transfer that land to BCM and work with all of us.”
UFH has announced its CBD Campus-City Vision 2030 plan, which uses the empty Sleeper land to construct a smart new urban African city centre.
UFH’s Professor Leslie Bank, who coordinated the planning and design team, said: “Transnet refuses to speedily release land on reasonable terms to Buffalo City.
“How can Transnet hold BCM to ransom over land that has been lying vacant for over 30 years?” There is something very wrong here and this might require higher level intervention.”
Molefe’s office responded to the criticisms with a poker face.
Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela would only say they were assessing two property pro posals from BCM, which would be done in line with Transnet’s “gov ernance processes”.
Sigonyela spoke of a long-standing dispute over the lease of the Orient Theatre, as opposed to the Sleeper site which was a straight forward purchase.
On the issue of movement on the deals, he would only say: “Transnet is considering both proposals and will advise the municipality of the outcome once a decision has been made.”
Senior city officials, among them Andile Fani, who was upbeat in September that the sale would go through early this year, were being “patient”.
But Border-Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les Holbrook took aim and blasted Transnet’s property division for “showing poor faith” over the 15- year period it had held onto the land, and for failing to fulfil a promise to develop it for com muter rail and complementary services.
His chamber’s view, that the site could unlock “huge potential growth and development for the Metro”, had received further im petus with the UFH Campus-City proposal.
“The Signal Hill site also holds huge potential for the development of the beach front,” Holbrook said.
“Developers are clamouring for a slice.
“What is the problem?”
“They (Transnet) have disinvested and closed many business units down completely. Why do they want to keep the land?
“A normal land owner is expected to pay rates and keep the property in a reasonable condition. They would also be expected after five years to implement improvements.
“Transnet has done none of that, and instead has selfishly held onto land they never even paid for.”
He said numerous associations were lobbying for the land to be returned to BCM.
Holbrook said: “Transnet is motivated by the desire to make as much money as possible. This is not only immoral – it is hugely un patriotic for Transnet to hold the whole of the metro to hostage.” —
Transnet slammed for holding onto EL land
This was said by organised regional business and a senior University of Fort Hare (UFH) aca demic.
Their comments reflect a growing body of Eastern Cape complaint sentiment against Transnet chief ex ecutive Brian Molefe for not accepting offers made last year by BCM. Buffalo City Metro.
University of Fort Hare (UFH ) vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom last week said on a public dialogue platform shared by Cab inet ministers Trevor Manuel and Gugile Nkwinti: “Transnet just needs to transfer that land to BCM and work with all of us.”
UFH has announced its CBD Campus-City Vision 2030 plan, which uses the empty Sleeper land to construct a smart new urban African city centre.
UFH’s Professor Leslie Bank, who coordinated the planning and design team, said: “Transnet refuses to speedily release land on reasonable terms to Buffalo City.
“How can Transnet hold BCM to ransom over land that has been lying vacant for over 30 years?” There is something very wrong here and this might require higher level intervention.”
Molefe’s office responded to the criticisms with a poker face.
Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela would only say they were assessing two property pro posals from BCM, which would be done in line with Transnet’s “gov ernance processes”.
Sigonyela spoke of a long-standing dispute over the lease of the Orient Theatre, as opposed to the Sleeper site which was a straight forward purchase.
On the issue of movement on the deals, he would only say: “Transnet is considering both proposals and will advise the municipality of the outcome once a decision has been made.”
Senior city officials, among them Andile Fani, who was upbeat in September that the sale would go through early this year, were being “patient”.
But Border-Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les Holbrook took aim and blasted Transnet’s property division for “showing poor faith” over the 15- year period it had held onto the land, and for failing to fulfil a promise to develop it for com muter rail and complementary services.
His chamber’s view, that the site could unlock “huge potential growth and development for the Metro”, had received further im petus with the UFH Campus-City proposal.
“The Signal Hill site also holds huge potential for the development of the beach front,” Holbrook said.
“Developers are clamouring for a slice.
“What is the problem?”
“They (Transnet) have disinvested and closed many business units down completely. Why do they want to keep the land?
“A normal land owner is expected to pay rates and keep the property in a reasonable condition. They would also be expected after five years to implement improvements.
“Transnet has done none of that, and instead has selfishly held onto land they never even paid for.”
He said numerous associations were lobbying for the land to be returned to BCM.
Holbrook said: “Transnet is motivated by the desire to make as much money as possible. This is not only immoral – it is hugely un patriotic for Transnet to hold the whole of the metro to hostage.” —
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