The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) could soon be relooking leases to some of the City of Joburg’s iconic recreational facilities, including one paying rent as little as R2 a year.

Petitions by angry residents across the municipality are being shared in a bid to raise awareness and stop the potential sale of parts of Marks Park, Wanderers Stadium, Ruimsig Stadium, Killarney Country Club, and Pirates Club in Greenside.

JPC commercial and city-focused interventions general manager, Sizeka Tshabalala, said there was a misconception that Marks Park and Killarney Country Club would be sold to develop low-cost housing.

She said the JPC was very concerned that the communities were also under misconception that the entity also wanted to sell the Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, and the Emmarentia Dam.

“There is no truth in all those allegations,” insisted Tshabalala.

According to the JPC, what the city intends to do was review some of the leases, which are as old as 30 years.

Tshabalala made the example of the Killarney Country Club (KCC), which she said only paid R2 as rental income to the city.

She said from another popular facility, Marks Park, the city receives R49 per annum and also makes contributions.

“We are looking at terms of the agreements; you can see that doesn’t make any business sense. It is incumbent on us as the JPC to ensure that we look and revise leases on these properties,” Tshabalala explained.

She said leases under review were those not in line with the JPC’s current business model.

The JPC has identified the properties, submitted reports, and are now with different council committees.

Tshabalala promised that the JPC would engage communities once council approval is received and advise whether the properties must be leased or further redeveloped, which looks at their usage.

She said certain portions of Marks Park are underutilised and that the KCC has potential for other uses that would supplement its golf course usage.

“We are not imposing what needs to be developed on these properties,” stated Tshabalala, adding that nobody will be left uninformed about the JPC’s processes.

In addition, she said, the land adjacent to the Ruimsig Stadium was prone to illegal occupation.

DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party was not aware of any properties for sale.

“There are JPC reports to be tabled in council for public participation. As soon as these are tabled in council, we shall be able to comment further,” she said.

However, Kayser-Echeozonjoku also issued a warning: “The public participation is to get public comment on lease or sale. If the properties are already for sale without council (approval), then it violates council process and the Municipal Finance Management Act.”

GOOD Party City of Johannesburg councillor Matthew Cook said the outrage over plans to dispose of key portions of public land was being stirred up by certain political parties and is rooted in a “Not In My Backyard” mentality that protects privilege and preserves exclusion.

The GOOD Party supports the initiation of public participation processes on three major land disposal proposals brought before council – Erf 1 Arena in Ruimsig, the KCC estate, and Marks Park in Emmarentia.

“The KCC represents over 100 hectares of prime public land in one of Johannesburg’s wealthiest suburbs.

“It has an estimated worth of a minimum of R50 million but was leased for just R2 a year, later increased to a still-shockingly-low R1,000 annually with 8% annual increases,” said Cook, adding that this was less than the cost of renting a backroom in Soweto for a single month.

He said Marks Park is over 20-hectares of city-owned land, zoned for public open space and currently underutilised.

“This land is located in a historically privileged, well-located part of Johannesburg, close to transport, amenities and jobs, it is primed to become well-located, dignified, affordable, or social housing,” Cook proposed.

He said the process must genuinely reflect the voices of those left behind, residents on the periphery still waiting for decent housing, youth dreaming of sports facilities, and communities seeking access to opportunities.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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