Development threatens Benoni Country Club’s existence

This comes after the club’s executive committee received a surprise termination of lease agreement via email, from the Ekurhuleni Metro’s Real Estate Department and head of department Manyane Chidi, on December 9, last year.

The City Times is in possession of the notice in question.

In the notice it is stated that the metro has identified the land on which the BCC (the remainder of portion 27 of the farm Vlakfontein 69-IR) is situated as one of the metro’s “Strategic Land Parcels” which could possibly be developed to achieve “the strategic objectives of the municipality”, which is to increase the economic, environmental and social benefits of the residents of Benoni and its surrounds.

It is also stated that current legislation, however, requires the metro to first initiate a public participation process to determine the opinion of the community towards the possible development of the subject property.

It goes on to stipulate that, pending the outcome of the public participation process, the club, as current tenant of the subject property, will also be eligible to submit a development proposal to the municipality for consideration.

Furthermore, it states that the municipality, in terms of clause one of the lease agreement between the BCC and the erstwhile Town Council of Benoni, gives the BCC a formal 12 months notice with effect from January 1, 2016, to vacate the property by no later than December 31, 2016.

“You are, therefore, advised to keep looking in the press as well as the municipality’s notice boards regarding public participation and/or Request for Proposals (RFP),” the notice concludes.

The BCC executive committee held a special general meeting (SGM) on the night of Wednesday, January 27, when they requested members to cast their votes for or against the proposed sale of the club to developers.

The outcome of the SGM vote would give the executive committee the mandate from their members to continue discussions with council and or developers.

The majority of members in attendance (407 votes) indicated that they were not in favour of development, while 54 votes were received in favour of development.

A major factor in the executive committee’s engagements with council is the environmental impact that any major development would have on the parkland course, which is home to more than 70 species of bird life, which includes a pair of crested eagles, a variety of owls, peacocks, blesbok, duiker, springbuck, wild rabbit, short-tailed and water mongooses, dassies and a lesser spotted African wild cat.

Another worrisome fact for the executive committee is that some 160 jobs (including caddies, mostly breadwinners for their families) are on the line should the club cease to exist.

The club itself, under new management, recently turned down an opportunity to host the SA Golf Open and was in the process of transforming its facilities and culture into a world class facility, which will cater to and welcome all ages.

It also provides a secure 16km cycle track, of varying difficulty (which winds through the forests), a thriving bowls club, refurbished squash facilities, eight tennis courts and facilitates numerous parties, conferences and weddings.

CLICK HERE for a brief history of the Benoni Country Club.

The committee has also roped in assistance from local councillors, including Ward 27 councillor Gerrie Kriek (whose ward encompasses BCC), who dismissed the submitted notice as “nonsense”.

Kriek, who also sits on the Town Planning and Economic Development Portfolio committee, told the City Times that lease renewals and new expansions are still coming up for review and for final approval by council.

He added that BCC has never been identified by Ekurhuleni as one of 40 strategic land parcels and that only two sports clubs in this region of the metro, namely Daveyton Golf Club and Springs Country Club, fall within these identified strategic land parcels.

“It affects a large portion of my ward so we will ensure that the right processes are followed,” Kriek said.

“The leases need to go through the portfolio committee and then on to council for final approval.”

Mary Goby, Ward 28 councillor and a concerned resident of Benoni, said that the BCC will not be forced out until the correct public participation channels are followed.

She also raised environmental concerns and spoke of the so-called “Chinese Cemetery” that is situated on the property and the threat that any development poses to this historic site.

A recent inspection revealed approximately 200 grave sites on the property, 30 of which have gravestones, the majority of which are assumed to have been African contract mine workers.

“You cannot dig up their remains and move them to another place,” she said.

She stands firm in her belief that BCC will still be around for years to come and that there is a long way to go in terms of public participation processes and petition generation to challenge any potential developments.

“They won’t take our landmark away from us that easily,” she added.

The City Times has also gathered comments from concerned Benoni residents.

Anne Menday, a Rynfield resident for 26 years who lives within walking distance of BCC said: “I feel that this development is being spearheaded by one or more acquisitive developers with scant concern for this special ‘green belt’ within the suburb of Morehill, with financial gain being the driving force behind their proposals.

“Development would certainly, irrevocably and negatively, impact the landscape of the BCC environment.

“The construction of roads, the felling of trees and the building of high density housing areas will mean BCC will no longer be home to numerous bird species.

“The buck will never roam freely again and another ‘green lung’ within our community would be permanently damaged.”

Rick Bernardt, a resident of Allan Street, Morehill, echoed the same concerns for the environment and fear for the habitats of the animals and birdlife at BCC.

“If development goes ahead BCC will never be the same again; we, as residents, do not want it,” he added.

Jeremy Croxford, a member of the club for over 50 years and a Morehill resident, said he understands the need for minimal development from a financial point of view, but only as long as most of the facility remains untouched.

“Maybe we are living in a bit of a Fool’s Paradise to think that we can try to keep BCC as it is,” he said.

The City Times sent an urgent request for comment to the metro on Wednesday, February 3, with a number of questions posed pertaining to the processes followed in the issuing of the lease termination notice and the Strategic Land Parcels mentioned, among others.

At the time of going to print on Tuesday, February 9, official comment had not been forthcoming.

CLICK HERE for the latest story (Metro responds to Country Club issue)