Home News Government accused of violating land use act in Sutherland clinic dispute

Government accused of violating land use act in Sutherland clinic dispute

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Tensions are rising in the Northern Cape community of Sutherland as the Department of Public Works and the Department of Science and Technology face accusations of violating the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act.

The installation of a high-rise fence and narrow-band amber LED lights at the Sutherland Community Healthcare Clinic has sparked a stand-off between the Sutherland Tourism Association and the local government. Picture: Supplied

TENSIONS are rising in the Northern Cape community of Sutherland as the Department of Public Works and the Department of Science and Technology face accusations of violating the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act.

The controversy stems from the construction of a high-security fence and the installation of narrowband amber (NBA) LED lights at the Sutherland Community Healthcare Clinic. Local leaders have expressed frustration and anger, claiming they were excluded from the decision-making process.

Community leaders report that their attempts to engage government departments on the clinic renovations have been ignored. Instead of addressing their concerns, officials have allegedly shifted responsibility among themselves.

This dissatisfaction comes amid the Department of Science and Technology’s approval of the 3077-Sutherland Community Healthcare: Lighting Application, a development that impacts the Sutherland Central Astronomy Advantage Area (SCAAA).

In a statement, Mere Kgampe, who has since left the department, clarified that the Astronomy Management Authority (AMA) had accepted design changes proposed by MVD Kalahari Consulting Engineers and town planners. These modifications were intended to align with SCAAA regulations, incorporating fully shielded lighting, restricted light emissions, and NBA LEDs.

“The proposed design changes are acceptable to AMA and approval is hereby granted, subject to strict application and supervision during the construction and installation phases,” Kgampe noted.

However, local tourism leaders, spearheaded by Professor Marius Venter, counter that these decisions run contrary to their efforts in positioning Sutherland as an “astro-tourism” destination.

“As the chairperson of the Sutherland Tourism Association, I have been tasked with promoting this area, yet the height of the new security fence and the brightness of the lights hinder our operations,” Venter lamented.

He emphasised that the renovations violate the Karoo Hoogland Municipality Land Use Scheme and called for an urgent investigation.

Venter’s frustration has been echoed by many who believe the extensive renovations have resulted in an unnecessary financial drain on the municipality.

“It would be an understatement to say they have gone overboard. The clinic, which has now been downgraded from a hospital to an outpatient facility, should not be incurring such exorbitant costs for security upgrades,” he added.

While frustrations persist, Rosalind Skelton, managing director at the National Research Foundation’s South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO), defended the importance of strict lighting regulations.

“Astro-tourism is vital for Sutherland and protecting our dark skies benefits both the observatory and the community. While we recognise the need for security, we are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that both astronomical integrity and local economies are sustained,” Skelton asserted.

She confirmed that the recently established lighting regulations aim to mitigate light pollution while preserving the scientific capabilities of the observatory.

“The revised lighting design, which includes using narrowband amber LEDs operating at 30% of total illumination, serves to significantly reduce brightness and lessen any negative impacts on scientific activities,” she stated.

Attempts to get a comment from the provincial spokesperson for the Northern Cape Public Works Department, Crystal Robertson, were unsuccessful at the time of publication, as she was reportedly on leave.

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