The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Development Planning has taken a significant stride in enhancing the capacity of its Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) by appointing qualified and competent professionals to serve as additional independent external members. The selection of these new members aligns with section 36(1)(b) and Regulation 3(2) of the Spatial Planning Land Use Management Act, 2008 (SPLUMA), as well as section 14(1)(b) of the City of Johannesburg Municipal Planning By-law.
The City is pleased to announce these appointments, as the incoming members bring with them a wealth of experience in land use management, engineering, legal compliance, and the built environment. This expertise will be invaluable in the MPT’s deliberations on applications and objections within the City’s jurisdiction.
Essentially, the MPT serves as a pivotal body in assessing and deciding on Land Use and Land Development Applications, as well as considering objections from concerned members of the public. This aligns with the mandate of SPLUMA and underscores the City’s commitment to effective municipal planning.
In welcoming the appointment of the new MPT members, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Eunice Mgcina, emphasised their role in expediting the resolution of land use and municipal planning matters.
“I am particularly delighted that this marks the first time we have appointed external members of the public to serve on the current MPT. Their inclusion is not only historic but signifies a positive step forward for development planning in the City,” said MMC Mgcina.
She further highlighted that the new MPT members possess qualifications and experience in the built environment, engineering, and legal fields, with experience in municipal settings as specialists or managers in their respective domains.
These appointees will serve a term of five years on the MPT.
A quorum for an MPT hearing consists of five members: the chairperson, a town planner from the Land Use Development Management unit, an external member, another town planner/assistant director/manager from one of the directorates within the Land Use Management Unit, and a Planning Committee coordinator, who acts as the secretariat for the MPT.
Written by Lulama Luti
29/04/2024
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