Bookworms let down as municipality allegedly neglects rent
Local library closed as the world celebrated World Book Day, all allegedly due to failure to pay rent.
It is alleged the Horizon View library has remained closed for longer than a week because the municipality forgot to pay rent for the use of the shop.
The library is established in a shop space at shopping complex, The Village @ Horizon but it was closed without reason recently. Complaints reached the Record who, while investigating, was given the complete runaround by both the property management company, its reputation management consultants and the office of Libraries and Information Services in Region C.
It would seem nobody wants to confirm nor deny the allegation that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) failed to pay rent for the property.
In August 2013, the Record reported that the library reopened after going through “turbulent times” and being closed twice in that year, and its location within the shopping centre moving once. The journalist at the time wrote “no official explanation has been given” and that it appears the library and shopping centre have “sorted out their differences”. It is thus not a new occurrence, but rather a recurring irritation to residents frequenting its bookshelves.
While visiting the premises and photographing it last week, the Record was stopped and escorted by an EC Security guard to Redefine Properties, the centre’s property management company. Leasing executive Keeran Govender declined to comment himself and referred the Record to head office for answers. A spokesperson for the centre management, Usman Aly, in a press statement simply said, “The tenant has full access to the premises and the library should reopen soon.”
“Any further queries can be directed to the library management,” he said.
The librarian in charge, Elona Muller could not be reached for comment as the library’s contact number obviously was left unanswered. The Libraries and Information Services head office referred the Record to the assistant director at Region C, Bongile Nkabinde, for answers. Nkabinde was occupied but her office matter-of-factly said the library had closed while their lease contract was being updated, and should reopen “as soon as” Monday 7 March. That remains to be seen.
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