Ekurhuleni metro to reclaim hijacked ERPM Bowling Club
This doesn't sit well with residents, who lamented the person who claims ownership of the property prevents residents from using the facility for things intended for the benefit of the public.
The once beautiful ERPM Bowling Club remains a bone of contention between the community and its illegal occupants.
Residents of Comet, the former mining village, have called on the City of Ekurhuleni to reclaim the council-owned former ERPM Bowling Club from invaders.
They also criticised authorities for leaving the once-beautiful facility at the mercy of property hijacking, while the community lacks public amenities to hold public events, including meetings and a voting station.
ERPM had previously told this publication that the property was after the city’s acquisition of the land from the mine a couple of years ago handed over to the municipality.
However, residents share how the property went from being a beautiful sporting facility to being hijacked, then used as a church, warehouse and meeting venue for a group of foreign nationals.
The once beautiful ERPM Bowling Club remains a bone of contention between the community and its illegal occupants.
According to the concerned residents, the property has been gradually deteriorating since it was hijacked by someone who claimed that he obtained it from the mine as compensation for the money the mine owed to him.
However, this doesn’t sit well with residents, who pointed out that despite their strong conviction that the property belongs to the city, the person who claims ownership of the property prevents residents from using the facility for things intended for the benefit of the public because he collects rent from the illegal occupants.
The once beautiful ERPM Bowling Club remains a bone of contention between the community and its illegal occupants.
The City of Ekurhuleni confirmed that this property belongs to the city, saying it has following the public outcry conducted an inspection on November 14, and it was determined that the property is illegally occupied.
When asked as to what the city intends to do with the property, metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said: “The city will lease the facility to interested parties after the eviction of current occupants.”
