Ward 81 councillor Irene Rugheimer has condemned the callous actions of residents who attempted to invade a factory in Kew wanting to convert it into a residence.
Some residents of Alexandra attempted to occupy Twelfth Road Plastic Factory on 3rd Avenue and turn it into a settlement.
According to Rugheimer, residents took advantage of the building because the owner was in the process of moving out.
They trashed and destroyed the building and according to Rugheimer, they were also in the process of building shacks around it while others occupy the building itself.
Some residents of Alexandra attempted to invadeTwelfth Road Plastic Factory on 3rd Avenue and turn it into a residential place.
“The owner had started moving out on Friday [23 February] and had not yet completed the move but with a help from the police, residents were removed from the building,” Rugheimer said.
“They then came again on Thursday [1 March] and trashed the factory breaking doors, taking out window frames and light fittings. They also destroyed the machines by taking off metal parts to sell.”
The police and Twelfth Road Plastic Factory owners inspect the damage done by some Alexandra residents who attempted to invade the building and occupy it as a residential place.
This is dreadful because they also demarcated places where they intended to build shacks, and furthermore, they destroyed taps and the fire hydrant leaving running water to waste.
The councillor said these people have no concern about what they destroy or the consequences thereafter. “This factory had been made an offer to buy from surrounding factory owners whose intentions were to extend their current businesses and employ more people who are unemployed in the area.
“Now the value of the property has gone down and the owner suffered thousands of rands in damages.”
Rugheimer thanked the Kew Action Group for their prompt reaction to the situation and for offering to secure the building. “The Kew Action Group are doing a sterling job in keeping the Kew area clean and upgrading some of the properties, and in so doing, will be able to bring in other investors and create more employment.”
Efforts to get a comment from the Alexandra Police Station spokesperson, Captain Ally Kodisang, were unsuccessful.
