City’s proposed solution for Orange Grove houses debacle dismissed
ORANGE GROVE – OGRA is against the idea and wants the City to first have a tribunal that will look into the matter and have a solution once and for all.
The idea of redeveloping the controversial Orange Grove houses into social housing units by the City of Johannesburg has not been met with enthusiasm by the local residents.
The houses are managed by the City’s entity, Joburg Property Company (JPC), and have been the centre of controversy recently with occupants allegedly being harassed and threatened with unlawful evictions.
It was widely reported in the media that there were people from Alexandra who recently came to the area and demanded ‘foreign’ nationals residing in those houses be evicted claiming they had ‘hijacked’ the houses.
The area was plunged into chaos with protestors forcing themselves into the houses but the police were called in to quell the situation and about 12 people were arrested but later released.
Responding to the questions sent by the North Easter Tribune on 29 August, the City’s spokesperson Nthatise Modingoane said plans are underway to redevelop the houses – ‘rezone’ them, perhaps demolish and build more units to accommodate more people in the houses and consolidate them into developable parcels.
“These consolidated land parcels can be developed into multi-story (up to four-storeys) residential developments,” Modingoane said.
“JPC received Council approval to lease the properties in terms of approved criteria. The properties are leased in terms of the Council approval such as that the tenant is employed and can afford to pay rent.”
However, the Orange Grove Residents’ Association (OGRA) has dismissed the idea of claiming it is unworkable.
OGRA’s chairperson Roger Chadwick said if JPC had acquired the properties in a structured manner with a well-thought-out development plan and placed approved leases in all the acquired properties from the outset, the present rezoning and consolidation process might not have been required.
The purchase process and subsequent failure to place reputable leases in vacated properties was hindered ‘by corruption and fraud’ and Orange Grove are suffering the consequences, he said. “I think the reality of the OG houses process is not months but years before any development can take place.
“However, OGRA would be keen to see the houses renovated as accommodation establishments and the area cleaned up.
“OGRA will support all efforts to provide the much-needed accommodation…the core issue has been the inability of JPC to manage the property portfolio when it came to the Orange Grove acquisition process.”
There have been extensive consultations between ORGRA, JPC, and the local councillor Eleanor Huggett, as well as other stakeholders in this matter and, are still continuing.
Huggett said this process started and much of it happened before she became councillor of Ward 73.
Huggett promised to organise a meeting with Chadwick to discuss further on this matter and share more information.
Attempts to get a comment from the Norwood Orange Grove Community Forum were unsuccessful with a senior executive member saying they are not interested in commenting on the matter.
Details: eleanorhuggett@gmail.com
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Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/231262/joburg-tenants-want-houses/
