The real estate development and community project, Richmond Park in Milnerton Cape Town, is a good example of how land restitution can provide a community with a long-term livelihood. Initially, the 401 families who stood to benefit from the land claim were offered R40 000 each by the government, but they instead chose to have the land restored to them. Through a competitive public tender process, Old Mutual Properties, Atterbury and Atlantis Partners partnered with the community to develop Richmond Park, a 300 000m² logistics, warehousing and industrial park.

The project has also provided opportunities for growth in other areas including access to business administration services and bursaries for further education. ‘We want the best possible future for our community and to see the surrounding areas thrive,’ says Frances Liedeman who, along with Lionel Clive Solomon, lodged the land claim in 1995. She is currently the vice secretary of the Richmond Communal Property Association and director of Richmond Works.

Boosting entrepreneurship

In March 2015, a 99-year lease was registered in favour of the Richmond Park Development Company. Each family received R100 000 and the community as a whole was given a 25% share in the company. Sufficient capital was also set aside to establish and operate a trust to fund future projects.

One such project is the community-led resource centre in Atlantis that has helped to train 200 people in skills such as forklift driving and construction work. And so far, 68 students have interest-free loans for tertiary studies from the trust. The loans are paid back once the students are earning a living.

This funding model is working well. An example is the park’s all-black female security company, CCS. Founded and run by Solomon’s daughters Charlene Goliath and Charlotte Adams, CCS already has a significant annual turnover and has created employment in the community.

‘Our father lived to help and serve the community of Richmond Park,’ says Adams. ‘It was our dream to make him proud of us – and it is with great joy that we could see his dream coming to life,’ adds Goliath.

Expert support

Full Circle Managed Solutions is helping to continue community entrepreneurship. It provides a framework for startups, and once they are set up, it steps back.

‘Why employ a corporate to do the cleaning or garden maintenance when you can authentically upskill the people who already work in the immediate environment?’ asks Paola Sella, the company’s development strategist.

Richmond Park’s success can be attributed to true community upliftment and investment. ‘It’s an incredible story of 401 families – 5 300 people spanning five generations – working with entrepreneurs and corporate South Africa to create authentic growth,’ says Redelinghuys.

View the full scale of the development here.