Umhlanga residents rally against controversial Bingo Hall proposal
Residents of Umhlanga Village have warned of legal action should a proposed plan to establish a bingo hall in the area go ahead.
The residents expressed concerns that the area is already under strain from various activities, including a busy nightlife that keeps them awake until the early hours of the morning. They believe that the Bingo Hall would exacerbate the situation.
Nearly 1 000 objections have been filed against the project, with the closing date for objections being this past Monday. The residents have made it clear that they will not accept the business in their community.
The concerns about the bingo hall come as the KwaZulu-Natal Portfolio Committee recently raised issues regarding the impact of gambling in society. They warned that while the industry is important for jobs and revenue, it is having a destructive impact on society, as many people are now addicted.
The provincial government recently announced that it had earned about R730 million from gambling activities for the provincial revenue fund.
Terri Maclarty, chairperson of the Umhlanga Ratepayers Association, stated that if their objections are not heeded, they will take the matter to court. She mentioned that about 500 objections were delivered to the municipality, with more submitted online.
“The ratepayers did not know how to object, so we created a platform for people to voice their concerns. The individuals in charge of this project came to us and asked us to withdraw the application, and we informed them that this would not happen,” she said.
Maclarty added that this project is bound to add to the many problems that the community is already facing. “This Bingo Hall, with 150 slot machines, was previously located in Gateway and was closed down; it has now been moved to Umhlanga Village.”
“We are objecting to this. We already have many problems with clubs in the area, including cars driving without number plates and noise that keeps people up until 4 in the morning. This bingo hall will only add to those problems. We have filed our objection, and we expect that the municipality will listen to us. We are a registered ratepayers association, and they have to listen to us.”
The period for objections has since closed. If the proposal is approved, they will take legal action, she warned. Residents believe the project is unsuitable for the area and could undermine its appeal as a tourist destination.
Councillor Bradley Singh stated, “There have been close to a thousand objections to the project. There are several grounds for our objections; one is procedural grounds, and the other is because we believe the project is unsuitable for the area.
“If a project like this goes ahead, there will be more drinking, more congestion, and other problems. Umhlanga is a tourist destination, and we want to keep the place attractive to tourists,” he said.
The chairperson of the Economic Development committee, Mafika Mndebele, said they are not aware of this development.
“We also recognise that balancing growth with social responsibility is essential. While proposals of this nature may bring investment and jobs, they must not undermine Umhlanga’s standing as a tourist destination or encourage irresponsible behaviour. That is why proper regulation, compliance, and responsible conduct are non-negotiable.”