It’s her business to brighten up Bertrams
BUSINESSWOMAN Julia Ackerman, to her friends’ dismay, has made the decaying suburb of Bertrams her home. Her friends and family will not visit her, but nevertheless, she is passionate about the area.
Four years ago, she was looking for premises for her ceramics business and was shown a five-storey building on Frere Street, which was being sold because the business was under liquidation.
She immediately purchased it, refurbished it and moved onto the top floor, creating a penthouse apartment with a magnificent view over the city.
Soon, she was renting out the premises to different small businesses and, within no time, the building was filled up.
“I could have filled it over and over. The rent is reasonable. It is close to the city centre, highways and the Rea Vaya,” she said. Her tenants are all small businesses entrepreneurs involved in clothing design, photography, gifting and linen.
However, she says, the area is in a state of decay. “The City of Joburg does not do any urban management in the area and nor do the police do much crime control. It is a wonderful suburb. There are many craftspeople all over the suburb doing extraordinary crafting and other skilled work.
“But people don’t know about them and even if they did, they would not want to come here,” Ackerman said, adding that she too was forced to go to see clients because they would not come into Bertrams.
Nandos has established its headquarters in Bertrams, according to their website. “If the city did basic maintenance such as fixing the roads, clearing rubbish and enforcing basic by-laws, this area would be a booming business, artistic and residential hub like Maboneng,” she said.
It is one of the few suburbs where there are industrial and residential rights and people co-exist happily. Across the road from Ackerman’s building are three derelict houses which are home to 100 people.
Owners have built shacks in the backyards and are charging R800 a month for one room. Ackerman now wants to start a business forum to get all owners together to put pressure on the city to act to save the suburb. One of her tenants is Ross May, who used to own a property in Bertrams, but sold because of the crime and grime.
May said: “The problems are poor road maintenance, crime, the misuse of property, poorly maintained properties, erratic electricity and water billing and poverty.”
May would also like to see a business forum established, as well as a website for Bertrams. “I would like to see an NGO sponsored by the business community, coming in to do some exterior painting on some of the old houses. Bertrams has the potential to become a design and manufacturing hub where low-income people live close to work in a safe and clean environment,” he said.
To assist residents and business people operating in the area, the DA has stepped in to assist, with head of the Joburg East constituency Jack Bloom and councillor Victor Penning saying they would attempt to get law enforcement and upgrading done, which would lead to the creation of more jobs.
“It is an accessible area with much potential. Business clients are put off by the crime and grime,” said Bloom.
Immediate measures he wants implemented are: The enforcement of city by-laws on overcrowding and illegal dumping, proper basic services, fixing up of billing problems, more effective action by local police, and the formation of a Bertrams Business Forum, including the suburbs of Lorentzville and Judith’s Paarl.
Anyone wanting to participate in the business forum can contact Julia Ackerman at 083 843 2351.