Photographs bare testament to the rapid deterioration of the Horwood’s Homestead, despite council’s assurance that the state of the building remains the same as it was last year.
In the March 5 edition of the NEWS, it was reported that while the municipality processes tenders for the lease and renovation of the house, vandals continue to destroy the century-old building.
Despite additional visible damages to the house, council maintained the house was in the same state as 2013.
To test this, the NEWS visited the property last week armed with photographs taken a year ago, photos taken in 2011 and photos snapped in 2009.
Last year only 12 or so of the house windows were broken, and mostly on the side of the house facing Horwood Street.
Last week the NEWS found that not a single house window remained intact, including the old stained glass door panels, which itself could be over 100-years-old.
In photographs taken last year the number of remaining wooden balustrades was significantly higher than those left last week.
Since last year, the two brass plaques mounted at the front door of the house to signify the heritage status of the property have been stolen.
A section of the old roof, which was intact last year, has lifted and portions of the metal gutters were removed.
Light fittings have been ripped off the exterior walls of the house and a number of hand-painted wall tiles have been broken.
“The farm house was fairly well preserved in 2009 and 2010, but by 2011 when vagrants started breaking the balustrades for firewood, sleeping on the covered veranda and using the water feature for their ablution facilities, we notified council,” said Friends of Horwood’s Farm founder, Mrs Sharon Lendrum-Frittelli.
In July 2011, the then spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) Mr Zweli Dlamini, said council took a resolution to lease the facility and that an agreement had already been sent to a potential tenant.
This agreement never materialised.
In January 2013, the spokesperson for the EMM, Mr Samuel Modiba, said council was again putting the site out to tender.
He said tender documents were being prepared to invite interested parties to submit proposals and that a consultant was appointed to assist with the refurbishment of the homestead.
“The farm house continues to be dismantled month by month, despite the council’s assurance that they had increased security guards patrolling the building, which proved to be totally ineffectual,” said Mrs Lendrum-Frittelli.
She added that she was astounded to see the council’s response that the house was in the same state as last year.
Council stated in its March 5 response that 12 window panes were broken and the rest of the damage is due to the fact that the house is more than 100 years old.
“Yes, the house is more than a century old and is was in an acceptable state of decline for its age in 2010, but the deterioration from 2010 to 2014 was dramatic due to vandals systematically dismantling the homestead and not because of its age,” said Mrs Lendrum-Frittelli.
“Once again we are told that security guards patrol the area and that current and future plans for the farm house include a tender for renovations as well as a tender for the appointment of a tenant. It appears the council keeps regurgitating the same response year on year and I cannot help but wonder if the EMM will be more proactive once the bricks start disappearing,” she said.
Edenvale ward councillors believe the destruction of the Horwood’s farm house should be placed squarely on the municipality and its lack of being able to implement restoration measures.
“I really do not know who the spokesperson for Ekurhuleni’s branch management and communications is, but they need to understand that there are buildings far older than 100 years that are in perfect condition, because they are properly maintained,” said ward 18 councillor, Clr Heather Hart.
According to Clr Bill Rundle, the ward 19 councillor, security guards spend more time “charging cell phones from illegal electricity connections than anything else”.
He added that human traffic through the area is inadequate to sustain a restaurant environment.
“The area is remote and off the beaten track, and security concerns are high. By the way, who would consider opening a food and beverage outlet next to a functional cemetery?” asked Clr Rundle.
