The community of Bezhuidenhout Valley joined hands recently to clean-up the property of the late Mr Diamantiro de Carvalho on 1st Avenue.
“The property has been a problem for years because Mr Carvalho could not maintain it,” said the ward 66 councillor, Clr Carlos da Rocha.
According to Clr Da Rocha, the property had become an attraction for criminals and vagrants.
A fire recently broke out in the house but it is unclear what the cause of the fire was.
“The house has caused problems for the community. We have experienced a number of robberies in the area and now Mr de Carvalho was murdered and we don’t even know why,” said one resident of 1st Avenue.
“Often we see people walking out of the house. People who do not live in the area,” said the resident, who asked not to be named.
One of the community’s biggest concerns is safety.
“Criminals are taking advantage of derelict houses and we are pleased that the community is cleaning up,” said the resident.
“The house has become a nuisance to the community because my father left it unattended for a long time,” said Reuben, a son of Mr de Carvalho.
“He had plans to renovate the property because it was my grandparents’ house but along the way he just gave up,” he added.
According to Reuben his father might have been killed because of the house.
“My father had strong beliefs in his principal and the house was very sentimental to him,” he said.
“Fighting for the property stood for something good to my father. Over the years people have tried to get my father to sell the property and he always refused,” Reuben said.
“We also feel the property has become a nuisance. The though of what would happen to the property if my father died has become one of my biggest fears,” he added.
“My father died fighting for the property and now the community has come together to help with the clean-up which we appreciate. At this point in time we have not decided how we are going to handle the house issue,” said Reuben.
The house is believed to be one of the oldest and possibly the first house built in Bezhuidenhout Valley.
