The Western Extension Business Association (WEBA) recently brought concerns about the area to the attention of the City Times.
These concerns ranged from various criminal activities, including misdemeanour acts committed by vagrants in the area, drugs, rubbish filling the streets and a lack of service delivery.
According to WEBA president Deborah Dos Reis, the council-owned Deneys Conradie Residentia flats in Western Extension, which is home to pensioners, has been without elevator services since 2014.
“The completion of newly installed lifts was to be completed in September but nothing has been done and the rentals have increased dramatically,” she said.
Recyclers in the area have also caused a stir with the execution of their waste management services.
According to another member, Derek Morris, the area near Harpur Avenue and Russel Street has turned into a thrown-together recycling station and is badly in need of skips.
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“We support the recyclers as this has become a way of life for them but the mess they leave behind is becoming an issue,” said Morris.
“The roads are affected by this as they obstruct the way to go about their activities.”
Vagrants hassling locals, theft of steel doors from electrical boxes, drugs among the youth, prostitution and rubbish piling up at the Benoni Central Pool in Kemston Avenue were among the various issues of contention plaguing the area.
“The drain pipes are also old and outdated,” a WEBA member noted.
“Addressing the shortage of wheelie bins has been on the agenda for quite some time now, with no resolution found.”
One resident complained of finding used condoms and syringes in her yard.
Others were testament to the theft of government property such as stop signs.
With the issues listed, WEBA demanded answers from ward councillor Sinethemba Matiwane and the Benoni SAPS.
Regarding Deneys Conradie, Matiwane said the elevators were shut down in 2015 due to a lack of maintenance.
“The metro budgeted to fix the lifts and found the shell was outdated and had to be replaced,” explained Matiwane
“Council then awarded the advertised tender to the successful applicant.
“Due to the inexperience of the project manager in the human settlements department, the completion has been delayed.”
He added the lifts were being imported which added to the delay.
“The contractor had to modify the old shafts to fit in with the design of the new lift and the contractor had to modify the specifications accordingly.”
Matiwane provided further comment in response to other service delivery and social concerns.
“Vagrants are a nuisance but some, like the recyclers, help with waste collection.
“However, they take what they want and leave behind what they don’t want.
“There are ‘no dumping’ signs up around most of the area but these are ignored.”
Matiwane said the blockage of the drains was owed to human nature and “all sorts of things”, later described as nappies, clothes and waste products.
The blockages included vandalism by vagrants and Matiwane said pipes that were leaking would be replaced.
“With regard to theft of steel, old boxes are being replaced with new boxes that are much more difficult to tamper with.
“The law is also clear about prostitution. You cannot ask someone why they are standing on the side of the road.
“You can only arrest someone if they are caught in the act and even then you need to prove they have been in the act.”
This, he explained, is done on the basis of discretion.
Matiwane stated there are a lot of tenants around the Benoni swimming pool and rubbish is dumped there by tenants themselves at times.
“Everyone had to go to the depot to collect wheelie bins when they were introduced and tenants were supposed to give permission for tenants to collect the bins if they were unavailable.
“However, this was not done by many property owners. Now people dump rubbish wherever they can, but more so in government-owned areas, as they know council will have to clean up.
According to Matiwane, the process of obtaining a new bin entails the following:
• Get affidavit in which is stated that bin is broken or has been stolen.
• Travel to number 4 Golden Drive in Morehill, Extension Four.
• Ensure the affidavit and proof of your municipal account number is with you on arrival.
• A new bin will then be issued to the resident at a fee.
With this, the councillor urged residents with rubbish exceeding the 240liter limit to obtain a second bin and thanked residents who adhered to the stipulated rubbish collection policy.
The City Times also contacted Benoni SAPS for comment regarding the issues.
Captain Nomsa Sekele stated the following:
“Benoni SAPS takes cognisance of the letter you forwarded to the station very seriously. However, Western Extension has a sector manager who is doing his best in terms of policing in the area.
“Our dedicated members are also patrolling in the area and we are appealing to the community to come forward with information that will assist the police in the fight against crime.”
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