PUBLIC LOSS: Joburg’s Santarama Miniland ‘hijacked’ for private gain
Santarama Miniland was once one of Joburg’s biggest tourist attractions. Now it can be booked for private events, while its operator has no valid lease agreement.
Santarama Miniland, once a prominent Johannesburg tourist attraction, has been commandeered for private gain, leaving its operator without a valid lease agreement. The site, consisting of Max the Gorilla, Michael Jackson, and the Jan van Riebeeck statue, is now solely managed by the City of Joburg's municipal subsidiary, the Joburg Property Company (JPC).
However, JPC has admitted to having no legal lease agreement in place, and despite owning the property, they have not taken any actions to stop the unauthorized commercial exploitation. The operator, Thembi Thembisile Buthelezi, refuses to answer questions regarding the lack of a lease, payments for venue hire fees, and the presence of unauthorised sub-tenants.
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