In July 2025, the JPC tabled a proposal at the city council for the "lease" of Marks Park. It quickly emerged that this proposal bundled in 173 hectares of public land for possible long-term disposal, including Marks Park, Westdene Dam, Melville Koppies, the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Protea Sports Club, and the surrounding greenbelt. These lands are frequented by thousands of people for walking, cycling, and community events every week, and they are more than just recreational spaces – they form an essential part of Joburg's built and ecological heritage.
The backstory: What is happening to Joburg's public spaces?
On Jul 18, 2025 Ruby Delahunt reported for Currency News that a possible sale of "Marks Park" by the Joburg Property Company was misleading, in that it quietly roped in surrounding parks and nature reserves.
Delahunt writes: "An innocuous-sounding item was tabled by the Joburg Property Company (JPC) at the city council, proposing the beginning of a public participation process regarding a long-term lease of "Marks Park". Only, it soon emerged that the area referred to as "Marks Park" actually included the entire 173-hectare Braamfontein farm 53-IR – an area that includes parts of the Melville Koppies, the Botanical Gardens, and the Westdene and Emmarentia dams, alongside swathes of greenbelt areas." Also included in the item tabled by JPC are the Pirates Sports Club and the Killarney Country Club, and properties in Zoo Lake and Parktown.
Nicolene Jonker is the councillor for Ward 88, which includes these areas. She saw red. Quoting Currency News, Jonker said: "A public participation process is the 'first formal step towards declaring the property surplus to municipal needs, and making it available for disposal'." She says it became clear that the JPC wasn’t just talking about a "new lease" either, but rather "alienation" of the land." What this means, in effect, is permanently giving up municipal (public) land by selling it, donating it, or giving long-term rights that take it out of public ownership and control.
In response to this proposal by the JPC, residents are justifiably fired-up and a petition is doing the rounds to "Stop the "alienation" of our parks, dams, and koppies", demanding that the city and JPC to remove the item from the agenda and ensure the land remains accessible for public recreation. While the JPC claims there is no truth in the allegations that public spaces are at risk, Jonker isn't quite so convinced. For her, unless the JPC produces subdivision plans or confirms the excluded areas, it is safe to assume the notice includes all of this land, for which the property company stands to gain a pretty price.
Delahunt writes: "In its notice, the JPC says the land "could yield significant revenue to the city through rates, taxes and municipal service charges once developed". It values the land at R50m – cash that city officials [...] evidently cannot wait to get their hands on." Regrettably, given the city's track record and lack of transparency, it wouldn't come as a shock if this proves to be true. Nor is the incident isolated. Also reported on by Currency News, a new property valuation by the City of Joburg – and rates bills to match – threatens the future of the historic Rand Club. This 138-year-old institution in the City Centre is almost as old as Joburg itself.
173 hectares belong to the people
The 173-hectare Braamfontein farm was originally part of a larger 3,500-hectare farm granted to Gerrit Bezuidenhout in 1858. In 1886, Louw Geldenhuys, a prominent figure in Johannesburg's early history, purchased a portion of this land. He named the area after his wife and constructed a farmhouse for her in 1887, which still stands today in the suburb of Emmarentia.
In 1933, Emmarentia Geldenhuys, widow of Louw Geldenhuys, donated 13 hectares of the farm to the City of Johannesburg for public recreational use. This donation contributed to the establishment of several key public spaces, such as the Johannesburg Botanical Garden, Emmarentia Dam, and Marks Park. The family's contributions to the city's development and public amenities are significant and enduring.
In response to the proposed alienation by the JPC, descendants of the Louw Geldenhuys family, residents, sports clubs, schools, and stakeholders are calling on city officials to respect the law, protect public land, and honour commitments to the community and environment.
As the petition outlines, the land includes heritage sites and important ecosystems. This land is legally protected as Public Open Space under multiple laws (such as the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Municipal Systems Act, and the National Heritage Resources Act), yet no proper legal or procedural steps have been followed to allow its alienation. Further, no meaningful public consultation, environmental assessments, or lawful subdivisions have been conducted.
In short, the petition demands the following of the JPC, the MMC for Economic Development, and the Speaker of Council:
1. Permanently withdraw the alienation item from the Council agenda.
2. Publicly confirm that the full 173 hectares remain in public ownership and use.
3. Ensure no further alienation steps happen without fulfilling all legal, heritage, environmental, and public participation requirements.
The organisers write: "This land is not idle. It is a functioning and irreplaceable part of Johannesburg’s parks, heritage, and ecological network. It belongs to the people, and it must remain with the people." To add your voice and protect Joburg's public open spaces, fill out the petition here.
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