Office of the Mayor no shows at Marks Park meeting they called for
The ward councillor as well as Emmarentia Residents Association waited for the arrival of these officials to no avail.
On the evening of July 22, Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker, as well as the Emmarentia Residents Association (ERA), were caught by surprise when they got word a meeting, to be held by the office of the mayor, was set to take place at Marks Park Sports Club on July 23 from 08:00 and 14:00.
Marks Park acting manager Jani Faasen said she was forwarded an email by a representative of the city, which requested the pavilion be made ready to accommodate about 50 people.
The email also shared the meeting would include the bomb squad and representatives of residents’ associations (RAs).
According to Jonker, she was never personally notified of the meeting, nor was the ERA, but, dutifully, they arrived at the venue at the correct time to meet with the office.
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Unfortunately, no one from the office showed up. There was also no presence of the bomb squad nor any representatives from other RAs.
The only person from the city that did arrive was Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) general manager Sizeka Tshabalala. When asked by the Northcliff Melville Times why she was there, explained she that she was just visiting the city run site, as she would with any other site under the city, and that she had no knowledge of the meeting.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker talks about the missed meeting that was supposed to be held at Marks Park on July 23, 2025. Video: Neo Phashe #caxtonlocalnews #caxtonlocalmedia #northcliffmelvilletimes #markspark #fyp #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Jonker fears that this meeting, called by the office of the mayor itself, culminates the sum total of the public participation the entity is meant to conduct, before tabling the matter of the sale of Marks Park, as well as several hectares of land, with the council.
JPC has described the public participation process as one that will address the requirements of the municipal asset transfer regulations, enabling the community to give their input on the possible plans to develop the property.
Jonker has vowed to get answers from the city, firstly, as to where everyone was for this meeting, and secondly, and more importantly, whether they will be conducting the public participation they were promised.
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