NJM Property

The property portfolio is deemed as central to creating a sustainable operating model for the NJM as an institute. The Institute owns nine (9) properties in total of which some stands are subdivided and some are free standing. Part of the property portfolio were intended to generate income through renting/leasing the units to tenants, whilst other properties are vacant stands. The biggest property in the portfolio remain the Masjid and the Madressah building.

Table of Property Breakdown

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PROPERTY PORTFOLIO
#	PROPERTY	TYPE	STATUS	OBJECTIVE
1	4&6 DOWLING AVENUE	RENTAL	DEMOLISHED	To rebuild and create an income to sustain the Masjid
2
3	1-3 DOWLING STREET	MASJID	REFURBISHED	Spiritual upliftment
4		MADRESSAH	REFURBISHED	Educational upliftment
5	STARR STREET	NEWCLARE COMMUNITY CENTRE (NCC)	FUNCTIONAL	Pre-School and Community Centre
6 & 7	BEVAN AVENUE	4 VACANT PROPERTIES	UN-USED	To rebuild and create an income to sustain the Masjid
8 & 9	WANDERERS AVENUE		UN-USED	To rebuild and create an income to sustain the Masjid

Property 4 & 6 Dowling Avenue
This property has become a serious challenge for the NJM and the Committee in particular. The property was derelict and previous renovations on the property were shoddy and of a poor quality. Subsequently the building needed serious attention, not-withstanding it is an old building that had structural defects. The non-payment and poor behaviour of tenants did not allow for the institute to be in a position to upgrade the facilities adequately. Tenants totally violated the agreement they signed with the NJM Committee – thus became delinquent. Furthermore, the arrangements and contract signed between the tenants and the NJM Management team, did not include water and electricity costs. This tenants had to pay independently. Unfortunately, this agreement too was not honoured by the tenants, subsequently the institute absorbed these costs with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). The result was that the water and rates accounts spiralled out of control. Furthermore, the electricity connections installed by the CoJ were bridged, which resulted and the Institute were fined, which further added to undue and unwarranted costs. The total civil disobedience and lack of respect from the tenants to the NJM as an institute necessitated that drastic action had to curtail the financial costs and the tenant disobedience.
The cost in terms of lost income is excessive. The NJM leadership passed a resolution to evict all the tenants. Various initiatives amounted to naught in terms of executing this resolutions, i.e. meetings with the tenants and roping in lawyers. Eventually the Committee went to the community who supported and mandated them to evict the tenants. The committee took another bold decision to demolish which was to demolish the property - This subsequently happened. With the tenants removed, the institute is not only saving money, but have also managed to recycle material from the property and utilising it to create a parking lot opposite the Masjid. Future plans are being put in place that will enable the rebuilding of the property to ensure that it ultimately meets the main objective to be a driver in creating sustainability for the NJM.

The Masjid and Madressah 1-3 Dowling An\venue
The Masjid and Madressah also underwent a major ‘face-lift’. The following improvements was done

Boundary walls on Hoy Street was re-build and re-painted

New underfloor heating installed in the Masjid

External wall tiling to the Masjid was completed which would assist in the maintenance of the building

A Generator (Back-up power) was installed – to assisted during load-shedding, which has become a regular occurrence within our community and Gauteng at large

The installation of a Borehole. This would go a long way in terms of promoting ‘Green Islam’ and saving monies on water (that would otherwise be paid over to the CoJ. This           initiative would enable the NJM to generate a huge saving. In fact it is estimated that we could even supply the locals with some water; The Madressah classrooms were tiled and           painted – thus making it more conducive to learning

Created a Kitchen space to cook with gas burner facilities and

The entire NJM building was building painted

Work in progress and still to be completed

Borehole tanks to be installed and connected to the water source

Repairs to gutters around the whole building and

Repairs and refurbishing the Ladies section

Starr Street - -Renamed the Newclare Community Centre (NCC)
The objective with the NCC is to create sustainable programmes and initiatives to engage the community’s challenges. Over the last three years this objective became very difficult to deliver upon. Many challenges existed that did not allow us to optimally utilise the property. None-the-less the building was being used as a Zakaah office in partnership with Zanzaf to distribute food parcels and create sustainable and developmental initiatives for the community. This is still at infancy level but should gain momentum in the near future. The premises also host luncheons for the aged. Furthermore, the property is also hired-out for private functions and community events.
This property has 4 classrooms on the top floor, a hall and a complete house on the ground floor with three rooms and a kitchen. Currently, the bottom section is utilised as offices and consulting rooms to address social issues. The top is a fully fledged crèche. The premises is also used to facilitate training and community workshops. Life coaching is also conducted weekly on the premises.

Vacant Stands
The Institute has four (4) vacant undeveloped stands in Bevan Avenue and Wanderers Avenue. No plans currently exist to develop this property, however the strategy is also to solicit views in ensuring it becomes a money generating property to further enhance financial independence. The property is registered in the name of the Institute.