The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg demands the City safeguard the historic farmhouse located within Bezuidenhout Valley Park by removing the unlawful City of Joburg officials who have hijacked the property.
During an oversight visit to the park, the DA discovered City officials living in the farmhouse. Not only is the property vandalised, but it also has suspicious car parts inside the house, and it is littered with alcohol bottles and other litter outside, making the house a source of public safety contraventions and disturbances in the area.
We call on the MMC of Community Development to promptly address these demands and eliminate the disconnected operational processes between JPC and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ). Additionally, the City employees that hijacked the farmhouse need to be subjected to disciplinary hearings for not abiding by the city’s Staff Code of Conduct.
In an effort to protect the heritage building that carries great business potential, the DA submitted written questions and replies from both the Community Development and Economic Development departments, who exposed discrepancies and highlighted the lack of collaboration, which has resulted in the mismanagement of this heritage building and other properties in the park and across the City of Joburg.
The Community Development Department has been quiet while the conditions of the farmhouse continue to deteriorate. According to the department, the farmhouse is leased out to Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). The Economic Department confirmed that JPC is not currently transacting at the Bezuidenhout Valley Park and no council approval has been obtained for the property to be leased to anyone. The department turns a blind eye to the fact that handling of the heritage site must be done in accordance with the 1999 National Heritage Act.
This conflicting information raises serious concerns about accountability and deliberate misleading of the council by officials from Community Development. The public heritage asset has been hijacked and vandalized by the officials of the City that have made it their home without necessary approval. The DA will always be on the side of the law.