Still no action on 'irregular' rezoning

TWENTY months after Nelson Mandela Bay's human settlements boss Lindile Petuna was accused of misconduct and negligence in an audit report, the city is yet to test the allegations properly and finalise the matter.

The report, compiled by the city's internal audit division, recommends that Petuna be disciplined for allegedly influencing the outcome of a Mill Park rezoning application from refusal to recommending an approval in 2009, contrary to council policy.

The application was for the removal of restrictions on Erf 23 Mill Park – that it be used for residential purposes only – and for rezoning it from residential 1 to business 3 purposes. The internal audit report, completed in February last year, raises serious questions about how decisions on development in the city are made and influenced before they are sent for councillors' approval.

The Herald understands that the report was finally discussed by the city's audit committee on Monday last week. - Rochelle de Kock