Johannesburg plans to lease six Rhodes Park sites — Daily Maverick
In Johannesburg, South Africa, a plan by the municipal Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) to lease six sites in the historic Rhodes Park in Kensington has prompted a residents’ petition. The property covers 221,372 m² and is valued at 46.9 million rand. As Daily Maverick reports, residents are demanding that no part of the park be transferred to private interests and that it remain an accessible public green space.
A JPC internal notice dated August 12 explained the possible deal by the need to generate revenue for the city and reduce the risk of land occupation or building deterioration. Ward 66 city councillor Carlos da Rocha said he does not oppose commercial activity in certain areas but demands that the sites that may be transferred for private use be clearly identified. The internal approval period ended on August 28.
Which facilities may be leased
JPC clarified that it is not offering the entire park for lease. The list includes a derelict restaurant, a former bowling club, football fields with a clubhouse, a community centre, a former youth road-safety training centre, and a tennis club. By commercial use, the company means a restaurant or another business that would complement the park’s infrastructure.
According to JPC, previous lease rights for these facilities have expired, although the football and tennis clubs and the community centre continue to occupy the premises. Once the agreements are approved by the council, current users will be invited to take part in the process, but they are not guaranteed to retain the sites automatically. The company said the transfer would take place through a fair competitive tender in accordance with Section 217 of the South African Constitution, unless there are grounds for a different procedure.
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JPC assured that the leases would not restrict free access to the park or reduce the area of public open space. The company also said it had received no applications, expressions of interest, or unsolicited proposals concerning these sites. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo supported renewing the leases, saying this would encourage more active use of the park and improve its facilities.
Disputes over urban green spaces
The discussion around Rhodes Park is taking place against the backdrop of other disputes over Johannesburg’s recreational land. Since 2023, the Friends of Field and Study organisation has been challenging development in Field and Study Park in Parkmore. Court proceedings launched in April 2024 were suspended for mediation; according to the organisation, the city committed in writing not to begin development until the dispute is resolved.
In April, the High Court overturned JPC’s decision to terminate the long-term lease of Killarney Country Club, which runs until 2040 and provides for a symbolic fee of 2 rand per year. The court noted that the benefit to the city in return is the provision of sports and social services to the community, meaning the lease is not purely commercial in nature. At the same time, JPC did not provide the publication with a list of other parks, sports grounds, or public-purpose areas that may currently be considered for commercial leasing, redevelopment, or a change of use.
