City of Johannesburg

Johannesburg Development Agency

No 3 Helen Joseph Street PO Box 61877 Tel +27(0) 11 688 7851 (O)
The Bus Factory Marshalltown Fax +27(0) 11 688 7899/63
Newtown 2107 E-mail: info@jda.org.za
Johannesburg, 2000

www.jda.org.za
www.joburg.org.za
To: All news editors
For immediate release
01 December 2022

NEW LIBRARY AND SWIMMING POOL COMING TO THE BRIXTON SOCIAL CLUSTER

The Brixton Social Cluster, implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA),
has been going a long way in benefiting the community of Ward 58 and surrounds.

The facility has been improving the area as a space to live, work and play in, promoting social
cohesion and creating a vibrant urban environment.

Since its launch in September of 2021, the state-of-the-art facility has already hosted notable
high profile events, programmes and initiatives including the 2022 State Of the Province
Address (SOPA), the 2022 Youth In Construction Summit, the Sixth National Conversation
on Homelessness and 2022 Southern African Regional Table Tennis Championships.

The Brixton Social Cluster’s full potential is set to be realised as the JDA continues with
catalytic interventions and public facilities upgrades which form part of the second phase of
the development of the facility.

Directors
L Brenner (Chairperson) M Mongane (CEO) LB Matshidze N Ntingane S Marota A Dreyer M Malinga W Thwala P Raphalalani C Whittle
R Shirinda (Company Secretary)
Registration Number: 2001/005101/07
On the corner of High Street and Mercury Street, building works can be seen as the phase
two of the project takes shape. For the 2022/23 financial year, a total of R12 million has been
allocated to the construction of phase two of the Brixton Social Cluster.

This includes the creation of a public square, new library, new coffee shop, an upgraded green
open space and kids play area, and an upgraded swimming pool facility.

A NEW, HIGHER CAPACITY 1842m² LIBRARY

The old Brixton library has been demolished and is being upgraded to accommodate the
number of people that use the facility. The Majority of the daily visitors are university students
and school children from the surrounding schools such as Piet van Vuuren Primary School,
Jim Fouche Primary School, E P Baumann Primary School and Vorentoe High School.

The new library will be a single storey building with a floor area of 1840m². It will accommodate
the main library general and specialized information resource spaces and a study centre.

The building ground floor will be split into two levels, upper and lower ground level, to take
into account the site’s downward slope from High Street road. The scope of work the
construction of the library involves built works, signage and supply of furniture items.

SWIMMING POOL TO BE UPGRADED TO BETTER SERVE COMMUNITY NEEDS

The Brixton Swimming Pool is older than 60 years and was constructed in 1938. During the
school holidays, there are usually up to 200 children that spend their days at the facility. The
surrounding schools also use the facility and arrange transport to bring the scholars to the
facility.

To maintain the swimming pool’s historical value, the JDA will be undertaking renovations to
the facility in accordance with heritage consultants and architect specifications.
The scope of work for the swimming pool entails waterproofing to existing roof slab, new glass
turnstile access, new tiling in the foyer area, new sanitary fittings in the changing room facility,
new access doors and windows in the two changing rooms, to be used as a first aid room and
a judges’ room.

New pool access ramps, equipment and refurbishment to existing storerooms for use as
caretaker units will also be undertaken. Construction works will also entail renovation works
on the floors, walls, doors and windows.

THE PUBLIC SQUARE, ART GALLERY AND COFFEE SHOP

The public square of the Brixton Social Cluster is aimed at being a safe and well-lit outdoor
gathering place for the community. The Art Gallery and Coffeehouse will serve as a single-
story building of 320m².

It will have three entrances, the first providing direct access from Brixton square, the second
will open into an outdoor sitting area and the third is an access to the Kitchen Service area.
The scope for this building will comprise the building shell, Facade signage, the kitchen brick
walls, and the toilet area including fittings and finishes.

The scope of work for the playground area will involve a new 60m² ablution facility and
walkways and paving, a cycle track, safety surfaces, landscape works, new playground
equipment, two drinking fountains and new outdoor furniture.

The JDA’s mission direct it to create a conducive environment for economic empowerment
and make use of programmes for the development of SMME. The construction of the facility
thus far has played a critical role in job creation and skills development, with 30% of the
contract value being awarded to SMMEs in the ward. For phase two of the project, a total of
8 SMMEs have been appointed on the project with the appointment value exceeding R10
million.
“The completion of the Brixton Social Cluster will serve as another example of how the JDA’s
development interventions in strategic locations in the city continues to create valuable public
spaces, infrastructure and amenities for city users,” MMC for Development Planning, Cllr
Belinda Echeozonjoku said.

ENDS
Issued by: Kenneth Nxumalo
Johannesburg Development Agency

For more information:

Elias Nkabinde
Email: enkabinde@jda.org.za
076 961 8022
www.jda.org.za