CoE provides updates on state of Gillooly’s Farm

The City of Ekurhuleni says the proposed long-term lease of Gillooly’s Farm is still unfolding.

In the meantime, the park continues to suffer from severe neglect due to delays in finalising the long-term lease leaving the property in a state of disrepair.

Despite a public participation meeting held in December 2023, no progress has been made in restoring the farm, which has fallen victim to vandalism, neglect and decaying infrastructure.

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Recently, Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys has raised concerns over the farm’s current state, stressing the need for urgent action.

CoE spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, said the draft public participation is still rotating for comments from the various departments before being submitted to the committees of the council for consideration.

He said the city maintains the park and cleans the ablution facilities.

The real estate department will be attending to the vandalised structures.

“Job requests have been made in this regard. The sewage matter has been referred to the Department of Roads and Stormwater,” stated Dlamini.

Gillooly’s Farm was once home to horses and has a dog kennel which has been neglected over the years with no maintenance.

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According to Humphreys the horse stables, once home to a group of horses that patrolled the farm, are now overgrown and abandoned.

Humphreys mentioned that a Bedfordview resident has shown interest in leasing the stables, with plans to turn them into a centre for animal-assisted therapy for children.

Dlamini said the dog kennels’ occupant refuses to co-operate with the city. Corporate Legal Services has commenced with eviction proceedings.There is a lease application currently being processed by the city for the stables property.

“The department is waiting for a valuation report, which determines the market-related rental to finalise the application and conclude a lease agreement,” he said.

The valuation request for this property is part of the approved urgent valuations to be issued by the department to the professional valuers as soon as possible.

Another major challenge is the ongoing fires the park has suffered in recent weeks including at stables.

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Dlamini said a site inspection was conducted on September 30, revealing that the building structures were safe from the fire.

However, the grounds were burnt.

“The city has procured the necessary machinery/equipment to maintain its parks going forward.

“The parks division is also on a recruitment drive to capacitate teams to address all maintenance backlogs. We have to date appointed a manager in the area in question,” said Dlamini.