Security guards hired by the City of Johannesburg to safeguard a park have illegally moved into a heritage house on the property, along with their families.
They are also growing a small crop of mealies using municipal water for irrigation.
Ward councillor Neuren Pietersen said the problems at Bezuidenhout Park — in De Wetshof, near Observatory — started in 2020.
“The historic buildings are slowly being demolished and vandalised by these guards, who are illegal occupants. Parties are being held there every weekend, leaving the park strewn with bottles. The city and City Parks [are] not taking responsibility,” he said.
The park, also known as Bez Park, was once a farm owned by the Bezuidenhout family since the 1860s. In March 1949, the family sold 133 hectares to the city, stipulating that the land be named Bezuidenhout Park, while the farmhouse was to be maintained by the city council.
The main building, now illegally occupied, is a heritage-listed house.
Pietersen said he visited the park on April 29, with city officials.
“The security guards who are illegally occupying the farmhouse stated that they had been advised by the unions that they were allowed to move in. The farmhouse is deteriorating badly. There are broken windows, [missing] geysers, broken handbasins and other issues. This is a greatly disturbing matter,” he said.
Other outside structures — including an old stable and storerooms on the property — have also been occupied.
Pietersen said City Parks had lost control of the park. There were other problems, including that the river running through the park had high levels of E. coli, but was being used by pastors to baptise community members.
“This is a concern as it can cause severe health issues. It is the job of security guards to ensure that they adhere to safety regulations at the park, which they are not doing.”
The operations of a small food garden — called Siyakhana, and sponsored by the city — were being affected by illegal activities in the park.
“Solar panels donated by the city’s department of social development have been stolen or damaged. There are no security patrols ... and there have been break-ins and gardening tools and equipment stolen,” he said.
Another problem was that the park’s open areas were being used by nearby schools and sports clubs as sports facilities, without permission.
“They have not entered into an agreement — or paid, or gone through any procedures to hold public events — with the city’s sports and recreation department. They host their events, then leave behind a mess, expecting the city to clean up after them.
“Bez Park has the potential to be a great space that can be used and enjoyed by the community. However, the state it is now in makes that impossible,” said Pietersen.
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The Johannesburg Heritage Foundation says it is dismayed about the situation in the park.
Chairperson David Fleminger said: “This historic property was built in 1863. It is one of the oldest structures in the city. The abandonment and subsequent hijacking of the property began several years ago, when the Johannesburg Property Company [JPC] failed to renew the lease with Rotary International, which was then beneficially occupying the farmhouse.
“Since then, it has been distressing to see the decline of the historic farmhouse. And despite efforts to improve the situation, it has deteriorated [further] through inaction by the city,” he said.
When the Sunday Times visited the house this week, the occupants declined to speak.
City Parks said it was aware of growing concern about the illegal occupation of public parks and open spaces across the city.
Spokesperson Jenny Moodley said a multidepartment meeting had been held on Monday at Bezuidenhout Park, “to address the illegal occupation by several of the city’s security personnel, who have taken residence in the derelict buildings within the park”.
There were plans to ensure lawful and appropriate use of the facilities, she said, adding that the process of issuing eviction notices was managed by the city’s legal department, “in accordance with relevant legal frameworks”.
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