Residents of Groenkloof are up in arms about plans by the City of Tshwane for a residential development with 1 800 low-cost units on land currently occupied by the Pretoria Vriendekring, which operates as a bowling club.
This comes against the background of a notice served by the council on the adjacent Harlequin sports club, which is more than 100 years old.
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The notice to Harlequin indicates that its land use does not comply with zoning requirements and that, for all practical purposes, it must have demolished all buildings and facilities by 13 April.
This while the club’s application for rezoning has been pending with the council since 2021.
AfriForum, acting on behalf of Harlequin, has sent an attorney’s letter to council to demand the retraction of the notices by 17 April.
99-year lease
While Harlequin owns its property, the Pretoria Vriendekring leases the adjacent property from the council on a 99-year lease.
The contract was concluded in 1957, which means it is valid for a further 31 years.
However, the council now wants to subdivide the property and make a 2.4417 hectare portion that is reportedly not currently in use available to an investor for development. On the other portion there are two bowling greens.
According to a report that served before the council in August 2024, when it was still led by the multiparty coalition under the DA’s Cilliers Brink, the Vriendekring would receive a new world-class bowling green from the developer in return.
The council supported the plan.
It would lease the subdivided portion to the developer at a rate described in one place as 7% of the tenant’s turnover, and elsewhere as 7% of its profit, with an escalation of 7% per year. According to the report, this would have amounted to R275 000 per month at the time.
However, this report and the public participation process held in May last year were based on an unsolicited bid made by a developer a few years earlier, which is no longer valid.
New developer, new plans, old approval
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In the meantime, another developer has come forward with plans that include a residential development with 1 800 low-cost units, an office block and shops.
Dijalo Property Development earlier this year revealed details of the plans during a meeting arranged by DA councillor Shaun Wilkinson on behalf of the community, but declined to discuss the development with Moneyweb when approached. “It is far too early,” said Dijalo chair Hosia Malekane.
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According to Wilkinson, the council officials involved in the matter did not want to attend the meeting because, in their view, the public participation process had already been concluded in May last year.
This is also the position the council has taken publicly.
One-sided public participation?
Mia Geringer, chair of the Groenkloof Residents’ Association (GRA), says they raised several objections at the time to which the council has still not responded.
One of their main objections is that the current infrastructure is already under immense pressure and can hardly accommodate many more users.
They state in their objection: “The infrastructure in Groenkloof North has never been upgraded for any subsequent development. Sewage and water pipes are still outdated and cannot cope with any additional loads. The original pipes were installed for agricultural use and not for densely built-up areas and major developments.
“While developers may promise to upgrade infrastructure, who will be responsible to build new bulk services in Groenkloof?” the GRA asks.
“Developers only take responsibility for the actual land they are building and on – nothing else.
“If bulk services are not improved in Groenkloof North, sewage and water services will invariably collapse.”
Read: Sewage treatment collapsing in Tshwane
Their objections were supported by the Muckleneuk Lukasrand Property Owners and Residents Association, which represents residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
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Seeking clarity
Geringer says it is not at all clear where the process currently stands.
The GRA has now submitted a petition to the council, hoping to obtain more information. They expect to meet with the council’s petitions committee next week.
“If we know what the process is, we can participate and raise our objections,” says Geringer.
She emphasises that the association is not opposed to all developments and understands that the metro needs money, but transparency is of the utmost importance.
It is also notable to her that the notice to Harlequin came amid the controversy over the use of the Vriendekring land.
It is not currently clear whether the Vriendekring supports the latest plans. Moneyweb was unable to reach management for comment.
Sports clubs easy targets?
Meanwhile, Moneyweb has confirmed that the nearby CBC Old Boys sports club, which also has a 99-year lease with the council, has likewise received a notice – in this instance regarding changes to the tariffs it must pay to the council.
Read: Tshwane ‘wilfully ignoring’ its own property rates policy – Rates Watch
However, on legal advice, the organisation has decided not to speak to the media at this stage.
Wilkinson says he is aware of at least one other sports club in the immediate vicinity of Harlequin that has also received such a notice.
“I believe there is specific focus from the council on certain sports clubs in Groenkloof, whether in terms of investment, evictions or tariffs,” he says.
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