Land from Horwood’s Farm, alongside Horwood Street, will be part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s alienation plan. According to the spokesperson for the EMM, Mr Themba Gadebe, a portion of the property will be developed for residential purposes and will be alienated to middle income first time buyers.
“The land will be alienated through a social housing programme to be managed by the EMM’s department of human settlements.
“Some of the land will be developed for commercial purposes and will be further leased to a tenant.
“Requests for proposals will be called and a successful bidder (future tenant) will be awarded a lease thereafter,” said Mr Gadebe.
“The residential component within the park will be implemented in terms of the Social Housing Act 16 of 2008. The EMM’s human settlements department is currently reviewing the social housing restructuring zones and has already initiated the process,” said Mr Gadebe.
Council is selling the portion where the residential component will be developed and is meant to allow for the residents to have title deeds.
“If the portion is leased, it will be difficult for residents to request financial assistance and use those properties as security on properties they do not own,” said Mr Gadebe.
Mr Gadebe said the department shall be fully responsible for the Social Housing implementation.
“The residents will pay rates and taxes to be levied by the municipality. The property will be subdivided to demarcate the area to be managed by the Anchor Tenant from that of Human Settlement.”
“Benefits from this plan will include the development of assets/facilities for leisure, residential, commercial (restaurants) and will encourage improved high-level social infrastructure, economic development and urban regeneration in the area within which it is situated,” said Mr Gadebe.
However, he said the restaurant (the homestead) will not be sold as it is a heritage asset.
“The gazebo will be improved to aesthetically fit to the new assets to be developed by the successful tenant. The said tenant will be responsible for the maintenance thereof,” said Mr Gadebe.
Mr Gadebe emphasised that even if Horwood’s Farm does not comply with legislation/criteria for public participation, the report to council was submitted with an information statement that calls for such participation.
Also read: Public participation to occur
