Huddle Park sale protest at Joburg Open
JOBURG - A community demonstration against the alleged illegal sale of part of Huddle Park took place during the Joburg Open Golf Tournament.
A last minute affair, Huddle Huggers Mob, a group of activists against the sale of Huddle Park engaged with public and staff outside the event at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Course in Linksfield.
Huddle Huggers members Daryl Fuchs and Benji Shulman stated that the public location and the demonstration of under 16 people satisfied the legal requirements to proceed without council permission.
Fuchs said, “The demonstration is to remind City officials that the local community is entirely committed to having the illegal sale of part of Huddle Park overturned and will continue to remind the City and the developers, who are Investec Bank, Standard Bank and Global Capital Alliance that their shady deal will fail.”
The pair also revealed that documented evidence of the illegality of this deal is available. They said the Huddle Huggers Flash Mob is a grassroots gathering supporting a return of all of the park to public ownership.
Huddle Investments which comprises shareholders, Investec Property, Standard Bank Properties and Global Capital Alliance purchased 53 hectares of Huddle Park for R45 million. In the article, Huddle muddle week ending 17 May, Huddle Investment spokesperson Felicity Hudson said the company purchased the land through a public tender process administered by the City council in January 2011.
Meanwhile, the 9th edition of the renowned Joburg Open event at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Course from 26 February to 1 March was won by Briton Andy Sullivan who claimed a second European Tour win at the Joburg Open.
The open is an important tournament on the golf calendar for both local and international players. It is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and PGA European Tour as an official Order of Merit event. The prize money is €1.3 million (just over R17 million) and this was shared amongst all the players who made the cut.
Details: Daryl Fuchs 083 395 0778 or 084 499 6411; e-mail savehuddlepark@gmail.com; Twitter : #HuddleHuggers; Facebook Group: Save Huddle Park
