Pietermaritzburg factory plans rejected

Some Mountain Rise residents have voiced their concerns, raising objection to the municipality’s plans to sell land for a factory in the area.

Residents said a factory on their doorstep would be unpleasant and would lead to a drop in the value of their houses.

This comes after it was revealed in January that the municipality was planning to sell the vacant land near Tucker and Apollo roads to a local businesswoman.

Owner of African Diya Trading, Hajra Bibi Essa, made an application to the city council to purchase the land with the intention to build a linen factory.

One of the residents said they were totally against the sale of the property and suggested that the land should be sold at auction to open bidders.

While a resolution was passed at Msunduzi Municipality’s full council meeting early last month to have the land sold, another resident said he objects to a factory being built in the area.

The resident said he had lived in the area for about 35 years and was not willing to see the value of his home decrease should a factory be built.

In a letter of motivation to Msunduzi Municipality, Essa said she wanted to build a linen factory that would create 30 to 50 new employment opportunities for local people.