- The Tygervalley Golf Village has become a source of simmering resentment amongst tenants in recent times.
- Tenants claim their water and electricity get shut off despite paying their bills. This has happened at least three times in the past 11 months, they say.
- TygerBurger visited the village during one of these prolonged power cuts two weeks ago.
Instead of a small and leisurely centre for golfers wanting a break, the Tygervalley Golf Village has become one of simmering resentment.
The Golf Village is located on the driving range next to the N1. It hosts a restaurant, a car wash, a golf academy and a hair salon.
Numerous tenants have approached TygerBurger over the past month over what they say is a management problem.
These tenants, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, claim their water and electricity get shut off despite paying their bills. With the added burden of load shedding, these businesses struggle to remain afloat. This has happened at least three times in the past 11 months, they say.
The car wash can’t use a vacuum and the restaurant’s owner takes their fridges home to save the stock from spoiling.
TygerBurger visited the village during one of these prolonged power cuts two weeks ago.
It was the middle of the day and the electricity had been off for three days. The village reeked of urine, was dark and the restaurant was closed. The guard manning the entrance sat eating chicken, while people walked past, unchecked and ungreeted.
Despite the dilapidated state, there wasn’t a lack of customers, as golfers regularly walked through, often trying to buy something from the closed restaurant.
There was a generator outside the Golf Village, which is paid for by one of the tenants, but it isn’t used all day.
Tenants spoken to claim the problems have occurred because the owners of the golf course, Pro Range (Pty) Ltd, haven’t paid their bills. The businesses’ electricity and water are then shut off, despite paying their own dues.
They also struggle with crime, with break-ins apparently happening more frequently.
“It doesn’t bother the people from Pro Range as they don’t need water or electricity for people to play golf,” one said.
To make things even more confusing, the land the golf range is located on consists of two properties. The University of Stellenbosch (US) is the owner of one property and the other property is owned by the City of Cape Town but leased by Stellenbosch University (US). Golf Village is located on the City’s land.
Martin Viljoen, the university’s spokesperson, has confirmed both properties were leased to Pro Range “which has been placed in final liquidation”.
The sub-tenants operating from the village, like the restaurant owners and car wash, rent from Pro Range, which is invoiced by the City for water and electricity used by them.
“The University is not aware whether the sub-tenants have paid their dues to Pro Range – but it would appear that Pro Range failed to pay its accounts to the City. The liquidator for Pro Range has been approached for assistance regarding the situation with the sub-tenants and this matter is on-going.”
The university has since stepped in and settled the outstanding amounts owed to the City as Pro Range is the university’s lessee.
Viljoen couldn’t confirm what would happen once Pro Range’s liquidation goes through. “The intention is to lease the properties to a prospective tenant in mind.”
The City’s Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, has confirmed that “non-payment can result in the disconnection of the supply of services by the City”.
As for security, the City says the university arranges its own security. Viljoen has confirmed this but says the arrangement for sub-tenants on the property not owned by the university is their own responsibility.
“The university is not aware of an increase of crime at the building.”
Pro Range hasn’t replied to various requests for comment.
