Businesses are trickling out of Alrode

ALBERTON- “I will not be investing any more money or developing my properties in Alrode South; as a matter of fact, I will be selling my properties.”

So says Peter Habib, from Allstream Engineering, who opened his business in 1979, and has seen this area deteriorate dramatically.

“I have been talking to various people for four years and I’m not making any headway,” he says.

“Many big companies are moving to Meyerton and Klipriver, due to the theft, potholes and illegal dumping, to name a few problems.

“Our computers, worth R400 000, were stolen last April.”

Another businessman from the area, who wishes to remain anonymous, says they want to work with the council to sort out the problems and help where they can.

He feels that the by-laws are non-existent or too weak to control littering, oil spillages and hawkers.

“There is not sufficient policing of these by-laws in Alrode,” he says.

”If companies dump oil they are not prosecuted and if I say anything to them they get very angry.”

He identified the poor road infrastructure, damaged storm water drains, sewer leaks and scrap metal dealers as big problems.

According to the township proclamation by Alan Goldring, now deceased, scrap metal dealers are not allowed to operate in the area under any circumstances.

Habib says that 80 per cent of council rates come from the industrial area, but the metro doesn’t look after the businesses.

Large areas of Alrode South are zoned for residential development, which will put even more pressure on the area and the schooling system in Alberton.

Paramount trailers moving out of Alrode to the Klipriver Business Park, just 10km down the road, are an indication of how many business owners feel about the state of the area.

The only comment received from the roads department was that repairs have started on the roads of Alrode and will continue this year.