Deputy Minister inspects Orlando West, Dobsonville, and Pennyville industrial parks
The visit was aimed to assess the current conditions of the parks
Following an initial oversight visit on January 15, Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole, alongside Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Tobias Chance, conducted a follow-up visit to three industrial parks in Orlando West, Dobsonville, and Pennyville.
The visit, held on August 19, included selected committee members from the City of Johannesburg, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA), as well as associations representing the three parks.
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The aim was to assess current conditions, address long-standing ownership and tenant rights disputes, investigate cases of illegal occupation, review refurbishment or rebuilding plans, and discuss strategies for ensuring a stable and prosperous future for all three parks.
Speaking to Urban News, Chance said the parks, built in the 1980s by the Small Business Development Corporation, have suffered from years of neglect and poor management.
“The poor management in all the industrial parks has forced tenants to run them on their own.
“We are also seeing cases of so-called mafia landlords who buy and sell properties illegally, rent them out unlawfully, and even evict people.
“They have taken the law into their own hands, which is why law enforcement and the department must step in, take responsibility, and finally put an end to what is happening in these parks,” he said.
Chance added that many of the problems stem from a lack of accountability. He explained that the oversight visit with the Deputy Minister was intended to ensure she reports back to the Minister on necessary steps to resolve these issues.
Numerous problems were identified, including the fact that illegal immigrants now occupy about 90% of the spaces in all three parks.
Other issues included poor communication from relevant stakeholders and the failure to implement promises made over the years, with Dobsonville Industrial Park emerging as the worst affected, plagued by criminal activity and lacking basic safety and compliance standards.
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At Pennyville Industrial Park, tenants voiced frustration over SEDFA’s management, citing misuse of funds and failure to support business growth.
Tenant Shuaibe Arabie said:
“SEDFA has no working relationship with us, refuses to consider any development ideas we propose, and is constantly focused on money. When SEDFA comes here, they just collect fees and leave.
They give tenders to companies that know nothing and don’t provide opportunities or funding. They don’t even direct us to the right stakeholders for help.
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“There is money available, but red tape stops us from accessing it. It feels like they only care about collecting fees, not helping us grow.”
Deputy minister Sithole acknowledged the government’s shortcomings and promised to investigate the issues identified and take appropriate action.
