John Yeld
2 September 2008
Cape Town — The province's environment department has approved an 8,6km high-voltage powerline, with cables strung between 23m-high pylons, which will have a long-term visual impact on the historic and highly scenic overberg villages of Greyton and Genadendal.
And the province's officials gave the nod to the project without visiting the site.
Angry residents have accused the Theewaterskloof municipality of lying about sending out relevant documentation endorsing the project.
The newly established Ward 2 Forum, which is a loose alliance of stakeholders in the town, has told new MEC for Environment and Planning Pierre Uys that the municipality had stated that due process had been followed for the construction of the powerline, and that the required correspondence was available to prove that the public - "and in particular the key stakeholders" - had been involved.
"It has transpired that no such documents exist," the forum said in a letter to Uys.
The forum said it had only become aware of the project when Eskom delivered the huge pylons to the entrance of Greyton.
"Known for its spectacular mountain backdrop, beautiful fynbos and quaint village appearance, Greyton has been kept as a rare natural haven.
The village, therefore, has several active stakeholder organisations which represent the communities' interests. Yet none of these organisations was informed by Eskom or the Theewaterskloof municipality," it said.
The forum said Eskom had failed to tell them about the new powerline that would "mar the scenic beauty of the village".
However, the forum has now sent Uys a further request, saying that it agreed that an alternative route is feasible.
The Theewaterskloof municipality's Stiffie Cronje said they would respond as soon as possible. Eskom spokesperson Fani Zulu had not responded at the time of going to press.
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