Vacant land an ongoing headache for residents

Spring has sprung. This may mean greener gardens and much needed rainfall, but for residents living along Kirkby Road it may also mean more problems.

The vacant land close to Oxford Road, belonging to the Gauteng Department of Education, remains a sore sight to residents, some of whom said they have given up on it ever being properly cleared up.

Clr Jill Humphreys said she had a meeting with officials from the department regarding the piece of land, estimated to be worth millions of Rands.

“At the time of my meeting with them, they did not have a conclusive plan as to when they wanted to use the land. All I want is for the place to be cleared. And for any vagrants living on the land to be removed,” she said.

She said her intention is to have permission for the parks department of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) to clean up the land from time to time.

“The land is a private property, which is why the EMM cannot get in and clean. I am hoping the matter will be resolved soon,” she said.

In previous articles, the NEWS reported that criminals would rob people passing by and run into the property which was, at the time, dense and overgrown.

Vagrants were also living on the property.

After numerous articles published by the NEWS, a contractor, Mr Mike Olifants, was hired to cut the grass and fix the the palisade fence allegedly broken by vagrants to gain access.

Mr Olifants left without completing the job, citing non-payment as the reason for abandoning the contract.

Resident, Ms Mpho Moloto, said she wished the EMM would be allowed to clear the land.

“In the next few weeks, that space will look like the Kruger Park. As the rain falls, I cringe because I know the grass will grow rapidly with no one bothering to clean,” she said.

Another resident said the wetland opposite the land was well maintained by the EMM.

“This shows that if allowed to clean the land in question, the municipality can do an amazing job,” said the homeowner.

The NEWS understands the department has turned down offers from people wanting to buy the land for development purposes.

A caretaker at a nearby complex said it would be impossible for anyone to build on the land.

“There is too much water on that land. The department should rather consider preserving it for educational and research purposes because I doubt there’s any structure that can go up there and be safe,” said the caretaker.

The department remains mum as to whether it has plans in place to permanently address the growing concerns from residents about the maintenance of the land.