City’s redevelopment on student accommodations still on

Plans to redevelop the Kruger Park building in the Pretoria CBD, which has stood vacant for more than a decade, after a fire claimed the lives of residents, are still in the works.

The building was awaiting approval by the Tshwane metro for the property to be released to the market on an open tender.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro had not abandoned plans to fix student accommodation problems in the city.

“The tender will hopefully be open by no later than 30 July.”

Mashigo said the building, which had fallen prey to criminals who stripped it of steel doors, window frames, bathroom accessories and cables, was now earmarked for a mixed-use residential development.

READ MORE: Tshwane calls for public comment on development plan, budget

“This follows a detailed and robust assessment of the highest and best use of the property.

He said having concluded the public consultation period, the metro was now following internal approvals in keeping with the municipal asset transfer regulations to ensure the release of the property to the market through an open competitive bidding tender.

This comes as, in 2019, the Tshwane metro was conducting a city-wide property clean-up which would see student accommodation woes in the Pretoria CBD coming to an end.

At the time, Tshwane mayor Stevens Mokgalapa told Rekord that the metro was off-loading properties to generate income for the metro and to alleviate the student accommodation backlog.

He said the metro had sold property that had fallen prey to illegal occupants in Eldoraigne, Sunnyside and Lady Selbourne, generating R11.6-million.

He said the properties in the city that would be used for student accommodation were Melgisedek and Kruger Park.

Mashigo further said that the Melgiesedek building had also been earmarked for student accommodation.

“Work is currently underway to ensure that the property was ready for release to that effect within the shortest possible period.”

In 2019, complaints over the lack of student accommodation in the metro had created tensions that led to protests by Tshwane University of Technology students.

The metro had since earmarked other buildings in Bloed, Bosman, Paul Kruger streets and three blocks in the northern gateway for sale to government departments.

While a further 56 properties were sold to the public works department to the tune of R81.3-million, the metro had said.

The profits were set to be used for the national government office precinct which would further see plans for the inner city Rekgabisa Tshwane project taking place.

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