Court Evicts Business from Heidelberg Heritage Museum After R1.3 Million Power Bill and No Lease

A historic Gauteng landmark has been at the centre of a legal storm, and now the court has spoken. After years of informal occupation, a mounting electricity bill, and no signed lease agreement, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ordered the Heidelberg Beer Festival CC to leave the Heidelberg Heritage Museum.

Six Years, No Lease, and a Mountain of Debt

The business, run by Bouwe Wiersma, has been operating from the city-owned museum building since 2016 and officially began trading in 2019. He did apply to lease the premises, and the Lesedi Local Municipality approved it, but the agreement was never finalised or signed.

Despite this, Wiersma stayed on and even sublet parts of the property to other businesses, without the municipality’s approval. The situation became even more complicated when the municipality revealed that over R1.3 million in electricity bills had gone unpaid. Eventually, the power was cut, forcing the sublet business to use a generator.

Safety Claims and Irony in the Paper Trail

In a surprising twist, Wiersma filed formal complaints with both the municipality and the South African Police Service (SAPS) about the deteriorating condition of the building. The SAPS then inspected the site and declared the entire Heidelberg Heritage Museum as unsafe.

The municipality responded by ordering Wiersma to cease operations and vacate the property immediately. While one of the businesses subletting from him complied, he did not.

Wiersma argued that only a separate building required attention, and the section he occupied was safe. However, Judge Makamu disagreed, stating that the entire site was implicated in the safety report.

The Court’s Ruling: Pack Up or Be Removed

On Monday, 5 August 2025, Judge Makamu ruled that Wiersma was an unlawful occupier and had no legal grounds to continue operating. The court ordered Heidelberg Beer Festival CC to vacate within seven days or face removal by the Sheriff of the Court.

The judge also criticised the municipality’s inaction over the past six years, which may have appeared to condone Wiersma’s presence. However, that delay did not alter the legal outcome.

Wiersma was also ordered to pay the legal costs.

Bigger Picture: Heritage at Risk and Public Frustration

The Heidelberg Heritage Museum is a culturally significant site, and this prolonged dispute raised important questions about heritage preservation, municipal oversight, and business accountability.

Locals have expressed mixed reactions. On social media, some users asked why the municipality took so long to act, while others said the ruling was overdue. “Imagine running a business rent-free at a heritage site with no power bill paid. The court did the right thing,” one comment read.

As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how the municipality plans to restore and protect the museum going forward.

Also read: A New Chapter: Joburg City Library Set to Fully Reopen After 5-Year Wait

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Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: PM Attorneys