September 2, 2005
By Tshepiso Seopa
RONDEBOSCH, freshly renovated and refurbished, was officially reopened on Wednesday, 31 August by the Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC).
The Hillbrow block of flats was a cesspool of crime, grime and violence before it had a make-over worth R3,5-million. It will offer 77 one-roomed flats for rent.
The building was refurbished under the auspices of the City's Better Buildings Programme, which is aimed at halting the suburb's decline and making it economically viable.
"Just six months ago, this building was well described as a 'bad building,'" said Murphy Morobe, the JHC chair, speaking at the event. It had been vandalised, windows and doors were broken, services were suspended and it was a blight on the neighbourhood.
Rondebosch was the second block of flats to be renovated by the JHC under the programme. It was assisted by the Johannesburg Property Company and various City utilities. The first residents moved in on Spring Day.
"Over the past three decades Hillbrow and the adjacent flatlands have undergone dramatic changes," Morobe said.
"These changes have affected the residential and business composition of the neighbourhood, its infrastructure and general governance in the area. Regenerating Hillbrow is the theme of this morning's occasion. Regeneration is about rejuvenating and adding value to life in the inner city."
Today it was a beacon, a symbol of a programme and - more importantly - a partnership of urban rehabilitation, the chairman said.
"To date the programme has incorporated 25 of the 33 buildings in five areas around this building. The owners are forming an organisation that aims to organise a thriving neighbourhood area to encourage and sustain the economic and social wellbeing of its residents, workers and visitors."
So far the JHC has officially launched 21 buildings, including new projects such as Brickfields in Newtown and renovated blocks like Lake Success in Hillbrow.
The JHC initiated a community programme in 2004, called the eKhaya neighbourhood programme. It is aimed at making the area safe and liveable for those who invest, live and work in the vicinity.
Among Ekhaya's achievements are a successful "Have a safe New Year's Eve" campaign; a street monitoring system that operates through regular caretakers' meetings; and the start of identifying what recreation and leisure facilities are needed in the area.
"The landlords decided it was pointless running good buildings but having tenants who were not able to step outside the confines of the block of flats," said Dombolo Masilela, the JHC marketing and communications manager.
"We started talking about problems affecting us all, such as crime, bad buildings, municipal problems, lack of facilities and dirt. We are finding solutions with the assistance of other stakeholders, like the City, its utilities, the Johannesburg metro police and the South African Police Service."
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