Residents of Umhlanga Village are claiming that the controversial Bingo Hall project earmarked for the area is "seemingly" being railroaded through despite serious objections from the community.
They have taken aim at the eThekwini Municipality, stating that the municipality has not addressed the concerns they have raised about the project.
The residents claimed that despite the project not yet being approved by the municipality, they have become aware of steps being taken to get the project off the ground. The Umhlanga residents are opposed to the business venture and have warned of legal action should the proposed plan get the go ahead.
Among the myriad of objections is that the area is already under strain from various activities, including a busy nightlife that keeps them awake until the early hours of the morning. They believe that the bingo hall would exacerbate the situation.
In a statement, Sandy Papale from Umhlanga said,
"A major concern has always been that allowing a special consent proposal like this to continue will promote underage gambling, both physically and online, and increase alcohol and drug use among the youth, particularly the staff that so faithfully serve in restaurants and bars around Umhlanga."
It was brought to our attention verbally that restaurant and bar staff have been offered substantially more pay to go and work at this bingo hall. There is misleading information being spread that stopping this project will destroy youth job opportunities.
"On the contrary, our belief is that by fostering community and good business practices, the local economy will continue to grow and flourish for all concerned. Allowing this special consent will draw the wrong sort of person to Umhlanga and decrease property values due to the degradation of the area."
She added that the surrounding hotels, tourism organisations, ratepayers associations, the medical fraternity, prominent business leaders, and various social groups have objected to the proposal in large numbers, with residents signing petitions and objecting in their own right.
"They are concerned that the upmarket nature of Umhlanga, a tourist attraction, will be tarnished and that the local economy will suffer," - Papale said.
She expressed concerns about how the process has unfolded, stating,
"The pattern of how this is all unfolding is all too familiar, and as citizens and ratepaying members of the Umhlanga community, we are demanding a public response from the municipality and the gambling board, as well as a quelling of rumours that this proposal is being railroaded through the process."
EThekwini Municipality's Marketing and Communications director Mandla Nsele stated,