Leslie London: Respect Constitution, Mayor

Dan Plato ignored sound planning principles and expert opinion

Cape Town’s Mayor is on a propaganda offensive. Mayor Dan Plato wants to defend his administration’s decision to depart from multiple planning and environmental policies to approve the rezoning of land allowing the redevelopment of the River Club in Cape Town. The development is a massive mixed-use property and will house, amongst other things, Amazon’s new African Headquarters. In his decision , the Mayor has ignored sound planning principles, his own experts’ opinion and much evidence.

Now, he seeks to blame opponents of the development for the potential loss of thousands of jobs should the High Court find his decision-making was reviewable. This is unfortunate but not surprising coming from a politician whose administration has done everything possible to facilitate the private benefits stemming from a planning decision by a public entity.

The mayor’s argument is being given extensive coverage, but it is cynically misleading. Read the full story published in the Cape Times on 28 September 2021 below:

Leslie London Cape Times 28 September 2021

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