Disinvestment in Alberton’s industrial hubs looms

Alberton businesses are up in arms and joined a heated meeting to discuss burning issues on February 11 at the Alberton Civic Centre.

In a meeting overseen by Ward 106 councillor Alderman Bruna Haipel, ‘poor service delivery’ from the City of Ekurhuleni was the common theme during the meeting.

Setbacks such as lack of water supply, overflowing sewers and power outages were said to be some of the reasons that Alberton businesses were pushed out of the area.

The meeting, mainly attended by property owners, outlined that it is becoming more difficult for entrepreneurs to rent out their buildings. This is said to degrade Alberton business areas which will eventually turn them into ghost towns.

Alberton councillors Bruna Haipel and Ward 37 Councillor Tiaan Kotzé echoed sentiments shared by a campaign run by Residents Action Group (RAG).
This is a movement run by unhappy residents in the CoE’s wards which demand proper service delivery from the City.

Huge losses

According to Grant Freeman, an Alrode property owner, in 2020 he and his tenants faced a loss of an excess of R5-million due to service delivery issues.

“The companies in our property are not happy anymore. Among other reasons, sewerage is the main issue as well as power outages.

“We pay R49 000 a month for rates and taxes between the seven properties that we own and we’re getting nothing for it,” he said.

Freeman told the RECORD that their businesses have resorted to buying costly generators for precautionary measures. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the CoE’s call centre.

New Redruth entrepreneur Burgert Bauermeister said he has lost at least four tenants because of ongoing power outages.

“My tenants were not prepared to pay large sums of money for an inverter hence they left. We as businesses are paying a premium, and the City does not appreciate that. A coffee shop from my property had to make an insurance claim worth R18 000,” he said.

To resolve these challenges, Alderman Bruna Haipel said: “At the moment we have something planned, we are preparing a huge demonstration which will possibly get Alberton businesses involved. We have tried motions and petitions and they haven’t been implemented.”

Kotzé said Alberton North businesses are just as affected as other parts of Alberton industrial hubs.