Horwood’s Farmhouse the same as last year – EMM
The brand management and communications department for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) said, “The status of the old house is the same as last year."
While the municipality processes tenders for the lease and renovation of Horwood’s Farmhouse, vandals continue to destroy the century-old building.
Despite this, the municipality had said the state of the house is the same as it was last year.
According to the ward 18 Councillor, Clr Heather Hart, windows continue to be broken.
“The inside of the house is littered with rocks which have been thrown to break the windows,” she said.
“The roof, gutters, wooden window frames and veranda balustrades continue to rot. It is a matter of time before the stained glass in the front door is also smashed and even worse, the home is broken into and the yellow-wood doors and flooring, and stainless steel kitchen equipment start to be stolen,” said Clr Hart.
She also said that for a short time a second security officer watched over the house, “but that was short lived”.
The brand management and communications department for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) said, “The status of the old house is the same as last year.”
“12 window panes are broken. As the house is situated right next to the road, stones are thrown from outside the premises at the windows.
“Security guards are patrolling the building and a clock point was installed at the house to ensure security patrols. The rest of the damage is due to the fact that the house is more than a hundred years old,” the department said.
Current and future plans for the farmhouse include a tender for renovations as well as a tender for the appointment of a tenant.
Both projects fall under the EMM’s Real Estate Facilities Management.
