By Tracy Valaydham - The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is calling for accountability and transparency from the eThekwini Municipality over what they claim are land sales in the area. This after residents of Phoenix and surrounding communities staged a peaceful protest on Saturday against the alleged sale of sports fields and playlots to private developers. IFP Councillor, Dr Jonathan Annipen says these public amenities, once vital spaces for recreation and community engagement, have been irreversibly altered without proper consultation or transparency.

Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipality says all parcels of land earmarked for development under the Phoenix Infill Housing project are zoned special residential area and fall under the Human Settlements Unit. However, some of these sites were used as parks, playgrounds and sport fields. Realising that, Human Settlements, engaged its planners and the sites were reallocated back to Park and Recreation Unit. To that effect, a council resolution was passed to keep them as open public spaces. This was done in consultation with relevant stakeholders like the South African Football Association Phoenix. The process entails subdividing and rezoning of the affected sites which will be carried out in the next financial year as it has financial implications. Therefore, the suggestion or allegations that these sites have been given back to Human Settlements developers are incorrect and misleading.