Mall road extension approved but 'illegal'

THE Baywest developers received full environmental authorisation from the government before starting construction on the R300-million new road network, which will ultimately link Sherwood and Rowallan Park to the Baywest Mall.

However, Nelson Mandela Bay councillors were told in a confidential public health committee meeting on Tuesday that the construction of the Walker Drive extension was illegal because the environmental impact assessment (EIA) application submitted to the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) had not yet been approved.

In a confidential report to the portfolio committee, acting executive director Andile Tolom reported that the Walker Drive extension was one of the "illegal developments from November 2013 to February 2014". - Rochelle de Kock