[Image: Biltong Bedouin/ Facebook]
The City of Johannesburg is courting public outrage with alleged plans to sell off parts of the Johannesburg Botanical Garden in Emmarentia, as well as parts of Marks Park and Pirates Sports Club to private developers who aim to build high-density housing and commercial properties.
News24 reported that the plans are set to be tabled at the city’s council meeting in August.
The documents are said to also include the Field and Study Recreational Centre, Melrose Bowling Club, Killarney Country Club, and Zoo Lake. No official word on the proposed sale has been made yet.
Residents and sports clubs, however, were blindsided after discovering the proposed sale listed on a Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) tender document. Community members, who have spent years maintaining these spaces and building active sports communities, say the move threatens not only recreational spaces but also the social fabric of the city.
The motion for public participation was set to be tabled in the city council on 25 June, but due to Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu being voted out on that day, city business took a back seat. News24 also reports that there appear to have been major inconsistencies in the motion, including discrepancies in erf sizes, pricing, and whether the properties were to be leased, sold, or transferred for housing.
Residents of Ward 88 are said to have gotten word of the development at Marks Park last month, with maps seemingly indicating a sections of the botanical gardens as well, but according to the Jenny Moodley at Johannes Parks and Zoo, the council’s proposal incorrectly includes the gardens and was only intended to list Marks Park.
The Johannesburg Botanical Garden, a popular site for walkers, picnics, and runners, is a rare green lung in the city, while the Randburg Sports Complex is home to various clubs and youth programmes across rugby, baseball, and hockey. Both sites attract thousands of residents and visitors weekly.
Clubs say they have already been operating under uncertainty for years due to short-term lease arrangements, hindering their ability to invest in maintaining and improving facilities. The proposed sale, they argue, is the final blow, jeopardising programmes that keep children off the streets and build community cohesion.
According to the DA’s Johannesburg spokesperson for economic development, the motions will have to be sent back to the Section 79 committees, so until there is a clearer path forward, everyone is in the dark.
For a more detailed breakdown, including maps of the proposed properties, check out the original article on News24.
[Source: News24]
