MEDIA STATEMENT
ATT: ALL NEWS EDITORS
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2016
MASHATILE LAUNCHES THE R30 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
“I am unapologetically in support of black business entrepreneurship. Our black
people have not been able to break through the industry of property development
and management space, and that state of affairs is unacceptable”.
These are the strong words of MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs and Human Settlements Paul Mashatile during the launch of Hollywood
Centre Property Management in the inner city earlier today.
Hollywood Centre is a block of flats owned by Take Shape Properties 75 CC, a
company 100% owned and led by Mr. Solomon Ramalamula. It is situated at the
corner of President and Nugget Street which is one of the busiest areas in the inner
city. It is a seven storey building that was originally an office block with retail space
on the ground floor. This property fell into disrepair when most of the businesses left
the Johannesburg CBD.
During the launch MEC Mashatile said that he is proud of government and
stakeholders who stayed the course to ensure that the sleeping giant which is
Johannesburg is awaken through the revitalisation of the inner city.
“This 681 square metre building created 109 jobs during the construction phase and
it will yield 101 affordable rental units” said Mashatile.
The MEC said that the revitalisation of the City could not have been possible unless
all stakeholders worked together to create a conducive environment for people to live
in peace and harmony and for business to thrive.
“It makes me proud to be living and working in Johannesburg. Thanks to the efforts
of all of us that have ensured that investors regain confidence in our City. It is
against this backdrop that the official launch of this magnificent residential property
called Hollywood Centre should be viewed.”
He said if it was not for their relentless efforts to clean the city and make it safe and
attractive, entrepreneurs like Mr Ramalamula would never had considered investing
their money to contribute to the ongoing efforts of revitalising the inner city of
Johannesburg.
“I am proud to have been able to forge a partnership with Take Shape Properties 28
– a 100% black-owned and managed property Development Company. This sevenstorey building that was originally an office block with retail space on the ground floor
fell into disrepair when most of the businesses left the Johannesburg CBD” said
MEC.
“This project allows black entrepreneurs to play effectively in the property
development and management space that is previously untransformed. It is common
cause that the property development and management space is dominated mainly
by a white minority that is reluctant to allow new, black entrants to play in” said
Mashatile.
The MEC also said that this situation is complicated by barriers of entry being so
stringent that black people have not been able to break thorough, notwithstanding
that fact that our country having been a democracy for 22 years.
He further said that in the State of the Province address of 2015, Gauteng Premier
David Makhura said the provincial government would over the next five years
mobilise R10 billion in public and private investments to regenerate the
Johannesburg CBD, “the seat of our provincial government”. This project is the
evidence that this roll out is well underway.
Solomon Ramalamula said he faced many challenges during the construction phase,
but he is happy that the project was successful; he thanked the Gauteng Department
of Human Settlements and Gauteng Property Fund.
Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government. For more information contact
the Department of Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human
Settlements – Keith Khoza on 082 823 9672.