Property developers Rabie have issued a statement in reponse to a reports that the Western Cape’s biggest theme park is being closed down because they can no longer afford the running costs.
Below is the unedited text of the statement:
When Rabie purchased Ratanga in 2005 it was on record as saying it was purchasing the park to acquire the land for future development. Since then there have been numerous news articles about the pending closure of the park, including when we retired two of the rides – Crocodile Gorge and Diamond Devil Run - to make way for the new R1billion Century City Square project which includes a Conference Centre, hotel, restaurants, offices and apartments. The conference centre and hotel opened earlier this year and the rest of the development, including the restaurants, is now coming on stream.
“The planned closure of Ratanga is not imminent. It will depend on when the land is required for redevelopment which in turn will be a function of the state of the economy and market demand for offices and housing. This is likely to be in the next two to four years but the exact timing is impossible to predict accurately.
However, when the time is right, the land will be redeveloped as a mixed use precinct which will consist of residential, commercial and leisure components.
Some of the rides might be sold but we are also exploring the possibility of retaining some of the kiddie rides for a smaller leisure attraction.
Local and international interest has been expressed in the rides for as long as we have operated the park but there are currently no firm commitments in this regard.
Ït is business as usual at Ratanga Junction and a planned closure of the theme park is NOT imminent.
*IOL, adapted from a press release