The aim of his visit was to establish the challenges of the premises and to address the leasing of the property.
He was accompanied by Ace Phiri, the Customer Care Centre manager, and several other delegates from the metro.
Several subjects regarding the property were discussed, including illegal dumping, deforesting the area and fencing it.
“The future plans are to discuss the property and its challenges, including the overgrown grass and trees, as well as the leasing of the property,” says Masina.
“My team and I will address this subject officially at the next council meeting, after which we will give feedback to the community.”
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He says after the property was discussed in council, a meeting will be scheduled with the community, council and Shabangu and “we will take it from there”.
“We don’t want people to lease the property if they don’t share the same vision as the people currently involved in keeping the area clean and crime free,” says Masina.
The first step he recommended was, once the property is leased, to keep the place viable.
According to Phiri, a report to lease the property is circulating within the metro for discussion.
“The lease will go out on tender after a decision is made by council,” he says.
He says illegal dumping will definitely be curbed.
Mary Reynolds, president of the Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EGCCI), promised that local businesses around the property and the EGCCI are supportive of the metro and the mayor, but asked him to “please make this right for us”.
“We have businesses around the property that are dying to get this place in a more community friendly area for the community to visit.
“It is a pity that such a beautiful area is going to wreck and ruin,” she says.
Reynolds also asked for the rent to be reasonable.
Local businesswoman Karen Tocher and several other businesses in the area partnered with the EGCCI’s Springs Clean Project to contribute to a crime free and cleaner Springs.
“We have adopted the area and the metro has come on board to keep the area clean, but we want the property to, once again, become the pride in the community, ” says Tocher.
The mayor’s brief, but positive visit to O’Hagans, has given hope to the businesses in the area.
