While only a skeleton remains of the once-popular Beachview holiday resort in Gqeberha, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro intends to renovate and re-open the resort.
Although no timeline for this has yet been announced, the metro says a public-private partnership for the resort management was proposed by the national treasury after a recent visit. The possibility is currently being investigated by the metro.
The resort belongs to the metro, but has been closed for eight years.
Residents of Beachview regard this as a safety, fire and health risk, and demand effective intervention from the metro.
Around 120 residents took part in a community meeting last Monday evening, at which their concerns about the holiday resort’s dilapidated condition and the associated risks were discussed.
According to Rudi Wilsnach of the Concerned Citizens group, the metro can no longer make excuses for the resort’s decline and must start taking responsibility.
“This problem did not start yesterday; it has been going on for years.”
Netwerk24 previously reported that the resort was closed in 2015 for renovations by its then tenant. Since then all activities at the resort have ground to a halt, while thugs systematically raid the resort and facilities.
The metro was embroiled in a court battle with the tenant until December 2018, before the tenant withdrew from the case and the metro was able to take over control again.
However, according to Jason Grobbelaar, a ward councillor, in 2019 the metro prioritised money for the renovation of its water infrastructure due to the prevailing drought, after which business stood still for another two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says that in April this year, at a meeting of the standing committee on sport, art, culture and recreation, a decision was made on plans regarding the future of the resort.
Grobbelaar says that one of the proposals was that the resort be managed by a public-private partnership, while another suggestion was that the resort be managed by a municipal entity so that access is more affordable.
According to Grobbelaar, the standing committee requested a report on the two suggestions, after which a discussion would follow about the best option. It would then be referred to the mayor’s committee and the metro council.
When asked about the expected repair costs of the resort, Grobbelaar could only say that already in 2017, over two financial years, around R7 million had been budgeted for this. However, he expects that the cost will now be considerably more because the resort is even more neglected.
Wilsnach says that from the community meeting it is also clear that the residents want to see urgent intervention by the metro.
He points out that the resort’s buildings and power lines are still being stripped, the remaining buildings are occupied by the homeless, and there are no water or sanitation facilities.
Fires are also made and recently resulted in one of the holiday homes in the resort burning down. There are fears that the fires could spread and endanger the surrounding homes and residents.
After Monday’s meeting, residents plan to hand over a petition to the metro with demands for, among other things, adequate security measures at the resort.
The metro says it has rotating security services at the resort, but warns that the resort is closed and any entry is considered trespassing.
“This problem did start yesterday, it has been going on for years.”
Netwerk24 previously reported that the resort was closed in 2015 for renovations by its then tenant. Since then, all activities at the resort have ground to a halt, while thugs systematically raid the resort and facilities.
The metro was embroiled in a court battle with the tenant until December 2018, before the tenant withdrew from the case and the metro was able to take over control again.
However, according to Jason Grobbelaar, a ward councillor, in 2019 the metro prioritised money for the renovation of its water infrastructure due to the prevailing drought, after which business stood still for another two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says that in April this year, at a meeting of the standing committee on sport, art, culture and recreation, a decision was made on plans regarding the future of the resort.
Grobbelaar says one of the proposals was that the resort be managed by a public-private partnership, while another suggestion was that the resort be managed by a municipal entity so that access is more affordable.
According to Grobbelaar, the standing committee requested a report on the two suggestions, after which a discussion will follow about the best option. It will then be referred to the mayor’s committee and the metro council.
When asked about the expected repair costs of the resort, Grobbelaar could only say that already in 2017, over two financial years, around R7 million had been budgeted for this. However, he expects that the cost will now be considerably more because the resort is even more neglected.
Wilsnach says from the community meeting it is also clear that the residents want to see urgent intervention by the metro.
He points out that the resort’s buildings and power lines are still being stripped, the remaining buildings are occupied by the homeless while there are no water or sanitation facilities.
Fires are also made and recently resulted in one of the holiday homes in the resort burning down. There are fears that the fires could spread and endanger the surrounding homes and residents.
After Monday’s meeting, residents plan to hand over a petition to the metro with demands for, among other things, adequate security measures at the resort.
The metro says it has rotating security services at the resort, but warns that the resort is closed and any entry is considered trespassing.
