RAPULA MOATSHE
The City of Tshwane has pledged to restore the neglected Schubart Park flats in Pretoria’s inner-city to its former state after, nearly 13 years of disrepair and safety concerns that rendered it uninhabitable.
In 2012, the property made national headlines after the City had evacuated its occupants due to safety concerns.
The Constitutional Court subsequently ruled that the evacuation was illegal and ordered the municipality to provide alternative housing for the displaced tenants.
The delay in repairing the property has been blamed on lengthy legal disputes with Tsoseletso Consortium - the developer, who was appointed during the ANC-led administration.
After taking power in 2016, the DA contested the deal, believing it was brokered "outside the scope of council and outside the scope of the law".
The deal was part of the contentious West Capital initiative, which was expected to link the inner city with Marabastad, with a view to inject millions of rand into the city’s economy.
Two years ago, the DA-led coalition government announced that it had reached a settlement with the Tsoseletso Consortium after a long legal wrangle.
As part of the agreement, a substantial 75% of the property will be returned to the City, acknowledging that it was incorrectly included in the original deal.
Kholofelo Morodi, member of the mayoral committee responsible for Corporate and Shared Services, said the City officially handed over Schubart Park to the developer on Friday.
She said: “This significant milestone follows the successful settlement agreement between the City and Tsoseletso Consortium, which has now been made a court order. This agreement marks the end of a long-standing dispute, opening the door to the rejuvenation of the West Capital Precinct with an investment exceeding R1 billion for mixed-use housing opportunities.”
According to her, the refurbishment of Schubart Park will restore dignity to former residents and bring much-needed affordable housing to the inner city.
“The Schubart Park complex will feature the refurbishment of four multi-storey mixed-use buildings, providing approximately 1,300 units designed to cater to a diverse range of income groups,” she said.
The revamped complex will not only provide residential units but also feature approximately 3,500 square meters of retail space, complemented by recreational facilities for residents.
“The terms of the settlement require continued collaboration between the City and Tsoseletso Consortium to finalise their respective responsibilities, ensuring the timely and successful completion of the development,” Morodi said.
Schubart Park was constructed in the 1970s as a residential complex as part of a government-subsidised rental programme aimed at benefiting civil servants.
In 1999, the City took ownership of the complex and continued to rent the units to civil servants, maintaining its purpose as affordable housing for government employees.
However, the complex's condition drastically deteriorated due to years of neglect and inadequate maintenance, leading to the forced evacuation of its occupants for safety reasons.