Homeowners Left Without Essential Services and Still No Accountability

I rarely leave negative reviews, but after everything homeowners at The Malachite have experienced, I feel compelled to share my experience.

The homes themselves are attractive, but that is where the positive experience ends.

Since taking ownership, residents have faced ongoing issues relating to governance, financial transparency, municipal accounts, utility billing and communication. Despite countless meetings, lengthy email chains and repeated requests for documentation and explanations, many critical questions remain unanswered.

The most shocking failure has been the recent disconnection of our water supply by the City of Johannesburg due to an outstanding municipal account. As homeowners, we are now without an essential service because these issues were allowed to escalate to this point. This should never happen in a professionally developed and managed estate.

What has been most disappointing is the apparent lack of urgency and accountability. Instead of receiving clear answers and decisive action, homeowners have been met with vague responses, delays, and repeated assurances that matters are "being addressed" while the problems continue to grow.

There also remains no clear timeline for the transition to owner-led governance, despite repeated requests for clarity. Owners have invested millions into this development, yet we continue to feel that our concerns are not being taken seriously.

My experience has left me with the impression that once the sale is complete, the voices of homeowners carry very little weight. We are expected to continue paying levies and special levies while struggling to obtain the transparency and accountability that every homeowner should be entitled to.

I sincerely hope Leogem reflects on the concerns being raised by its homeowners and starts engaging with residents in a meaningful way. At present, I cannot recommend buying into a Leogem development based on my experience, and I would strongly encourage prospective buyers to carry out thorough due diligence on the governance, utility arrangements, and management of any development before purchasing.