UPDATE: September 2014, 12:30pm – Relieved patrons flocked back to the Zoo Lake Bowling Club on 2 September after a court order temporarily halted an eviction order, and operations resumed at 12pm.
This after the City of Johannesburg obtained an eviction order against the bowls club which it implemented yesterday. However attorneys acting on behalf of the bowls club, submitted a petition to appeal the eviction based on a technicality relating to the issuing of the eviction notice.
Stephen Hardie, secretary for the bowling club, said if the eviction order was enforced, the premises would have probably remained vacant until a new lawful tender process was completed.
On 29 August, the initial tender process, which saw Kenako Consulting winning the bid for the premises, was declared “unconstitutional” by the High Court and the court further ruled that a valid tender process commence.
Hardie said they were waiting for the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the eviction order entirely.
The City of Johannesburg is now seeking legal advice while examining the latest court order. City council’s spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said they would also be monitoring the club’s threat to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
This is a developing story, and more details will follow as they become available.
Related articles:
Zoo Lake Bowls Club unlikely to become rehab centre
Bowling club responds to property company
Initial report: 1 September 2014, 3:30pm – This comes after the club lost its bid to stay open until the premises be adjudicated to a successful bidder by the City of Joburg’s Property Company.
On 29 August the initial tender process, which saw Kenako Consulting winning the bid for the premises, was declared “unconstitutional” by the High Court and the court further ruled that a valid tender process commence.
Following this judgement, Schindlers Attorneys, on behalf of Zoo Lake Bowling Club, submitted a petition to appeal the court’s decision to evict the current tenant on the basis that when the eviction notice was issued, the premises were adjudicated to Kenako Consulting.
Steven Hardie of Schindlers Attorneys said if the eviction order was enforced, the premises would then stay vacant until a new lawful tender process was completed.
“We know what happens when buildings such as this one are left vacant for too long. Look at the history of the other bowling clubs in Joburg left vacant – they are vandalised and ruined,” he said
Twenty-eight members of staff were left wondering what would happen next when the Sheriff arrived on the premises to change the locks and evict the current club tenant, Chris Moffat.
Bonisiwe Zulu, one of the staff members and a mother to five children living in KwaZulu-Natal, said she didn’t know where she would go.
“Yes we knew that the club was in court fighting to stay open but no one warned us that the club would be closed today,” she said.
“I can’t even go back home as I have no money. I don’t know what any of us will do, I think we will stay here until the place opens again.”
The Sheriff, whose name is not known to the Gazette, refused to comment and intimidated the Gazette, threatening to call the police if our reporter took more photos; the men hired to help evict the tenants also attempted to intimidate our reporter.
What are your thoughts on the end of the club?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or tweet us @RK_Gazette
Add us on BBM for the latest news in your community. PIN: 29C7976C
