An investigation into the running of the club was carried out by the Johannesburg Property Company last year.
This came after Ward 90 councillor Gordon Mackay reported that the property had allegedly become a venue for suspicious activities.
Mackay said he had been told people had taken up residence in the club, and that it had been suspected prostitution and the illegal sale of alcohol was taking place.
According to Mckay the Johannesburg Property Company confirmed the tenant’s lease had been cancelled in December.
“I am pleased to say that the tenant evicted the premises and now the Johannesburg Bowls Association is in the process of looking for an anchor tenant,” said Mackay.
“The Joburg Bowls Association remains committed to reinvigorating the site as a centre for bowls and is committed to developing an outreach programme to attract new bowlers to the club.”
He also reported that the centre would be utilised more broadly for a range of community activities such as ballet and karate.
Mackay commended the Craighall Residents Association for its contribution to the two-year fight with the club’s former tenant.
“The association has been instrumental in making sure the community gets this property back and this again demonstrates the value of having a community forum,” he said.
The residents’ asssociation’s spokesperson, Wendy McAllister, appealed to business owners and community members to get involved in restoring the club to its former condition.
She explained that a management team made of representatives from the Johannesburg Bowls Association, the residents’ association, the tennis club and some residents from the area would be elected soon.
“It would then be the responsibility of this team to formulate ideas on how to revive the club and decide what steps would be taken going forward,” she said.
Paulette Malcolm, Ward 90 committee member, said she believed the club could be a heritage site as there’s proof that it has been in existence since 1957.
She emphasised the importance for community involvement as the club would be self-supporting and thus no progress could be made without the support from the community.
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