The growing frustration of Alberton North business owners is boiling over. They demand urgent municipal action to address a persistent issue and rampant crime.
At the centre of the controversy are the stolen pipes and sprinkler system’s lid that have negatively affected the nearby business properties.
Despite reporting the matter many times, the municipality’s response has been inadequate, leaving the business owners and vendors vulnerable to damage.
“I have lost count of the times I’ve reported this issue. The municipality fixed the pipe but refused to replace the lid, telling me to go to Swartkoppies. I did, but nothing happened,” said a business owner who asked to remain anonymous.
The situation escalated when the pipes were stolen for the second time, flooding the area and affecting a vendor’s stand.
“Water poured into my stand and damaged my stuff,” said Anonymous.
To make matters worse, two children fell into the uncovered hole, injuring their legs. Exasperated business owners in the complex recently hired a private construction firm to fix the pipe, but no lid means the area is still vulnerable.
According to business owners, the source of the problem is the nearby Funny Farm informal settlement, an illegally occupied property belonging to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). This hotspot of crime has made life difficult for local businesses.
“We demand the municipality demolish Funny Farm. Criminals from this area terrorise us,” said an anonymous source.
Furthermore, business owners are frustrated with the municipality’s incomplete projects, including a street light initiative left half-finished.
“Van Riebeek Street is littered with holes that once had covers. We are tired of the municipality’s poor service delivery.”
The community calls for the immediate replacement of the lid, the demolition of the Funny Farm informal settlement, the completion of street light projects, the repair of holes and the replacement of covers on the roads in the area.
The Alberton Record requested comment via email from Ward 37 Clr Ivan Naidoo on October 3, enquiring about the issue, but he hasn’t responded.
Alberton Record sent him a WhatsApp text on October 7, asking him to respond to the email sent to him, and his response was, “Will address”.
CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini commented on the matter after the Alberton Record sent him a request for comment.
He said, “The city is following up on the matter.”
