Johannesburg Property Company urged to clarify plans for iconic recreational facilities

Pressure is mounting on the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) to provide clarity on its plans for several of the city’s iconic recreational facilities, such as Marks Park, Emmarentia Dam, and the Killarney Country Club.

The JPC this week revealed part of its plans for Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia Dam, Marks Park, Westpark Cemetery, Wanderers Stadium, Ruimsig Stadium, Killarney Country Club (KCC), and Pirates Club in Greenside, among others.

This followed an outcry from worried residents concerned about the possible sale of these facilities.

JPC commercial and city-focused interventions general manager Sizeka Tshabalala attempted to allay fears that council land worth millions of rand was up for sale, saying this was a misconception and that there was no truth to the concerns raised.

According to the JPC, KCC paid only R2 as rental income to the city while from another popular facility, Marks Park, it receives R49 per annum and also makes contributions.

Tshabalala said the municipality was reviewing some of the leases as old as 30 years in order for them to make business sense and align with the entity’s model.

However, the Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) complained that the plans appear vague and contain apparent contradictions.

“The city needs to clarify whether it is considering selling or leasing the land for investment purposes while retaining part of it for recreational use, or whether a different proposal is being tabled altogether,” the JCA demanded.

It added that residents were concerned that large areas of public green space could be lost in the process of redevelopment.

The JCA said that while the land under consideration includes valuable green space that contributes to Johannesburg’s air quality and ecological heritage, commercial and residential developments are also necessary to meet the city’s growing needs.

“Balancing these competing interests requires careful and transparent planning,” the alliance noted, urging the municipality to promptly engage all stakeholders with the transparency, sensitivity and accountability that residents deserve.

Lobby group AfriForum also demanded more clarity on the JPC’s plans, as it is not exactly clear which sites are being targeted, whether for leasing or sales to developers.

AfriForum wants to know exactly which properties are being considered, the proposals, and how public consultation will be rolled out, as the answers will determine its further steps to ensure all residents’ interests will be served.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za