New bylaw will target owners of derelict properties

THE city has approved a new bylaw pertaining to the issuing of fines to owners of derelict buildings, which will come into effect in the next six months.

According to ward councillor, Martin Meyer, this can't come soon enough, and he hopes to request the full fine be issued to owners of derelict houses in the Berea and Morningside area, including the owner of the property at 226 9th Avenue which has featured in the media recently.

Berea Mail attended a raid on the house recently with the CPF, SAPS, Florida Road UIP and Metro Police, and met with the precinct manager of the Florida Road UIP last week to discuss the issues of crime surrounding this property.

According to Jarrod Evans, the vagrants living in this and an abandoned building in East Street, Overport, are the cause of many crime-related problems experienced on Florida Road.

“Over the past year we have had a few incidents of crime in the road, which can be linked to the men staying in the house. Vagrants posing as car guards in the road have also been linked to a number of crimes and are involved in dealing in drugs in the road. I have also seen security companies and the SAPS chasing these men, who run into the house in 9th Avenue. We have been in contact with the owners without much success, as they are not willing to engage with us. It's the most we can do,” he said.

He said the Florida Road UIP was maintaining the public open space and said he would also like to know that residents and businesses also do their part.

“I wish individuals like these owners would play their part and maintain their properties. From a health point of view, that house can't stand, it can't be allowed. When we raided the house recently there was a woman with a child living in those appalling conditions,” he said.

Evans said he was aware that this was not only a Florida Road problem specifically, but that it was part of the city-wide problem.

“Something needs to be done to address this issue and the Florida Road UIP is trying its best to assist ratepayers to resolve the issue.

Evans said it was the immediate neighbours who were badly affected by the state of the property. Berea Mail spoke to a property owner adjacent to the house in 9th Avenue, who has recently been affected by crime.

Jason Clemens said the house was loaded with vagrants and he had had endless problems in relation to crime.

“I had my one window broken in an attempted break-in, our gate battery was stolen, they tried to steal the bolts off our rails on our pallisade gate, a hosepipe was stolen, they broke into our store room and stole a bar fridge and we have had to replace all copper pipes and taps. They broke into my tenant upstairs' room by smashing out the double glass doors, which had to be replaced,” he said.

Clemens said the situation was terrible and the crime was bad. He is waiting for a criminal court date to prosecute one of the men staying in the house.

“I don't know what to do. The police raid often, but the men just move back in. They have now started cutting tree branches, pulling them up the stairs and barricading themselves in. The owner needs to be targeted, as it is clear he is leaving the house to go to ruin so it can be demolished,” he said.

Councillor Meyer he was aware of the ongoing security concerns regarding the property. “The CPF, SAPS and Metro Police have all assisted with regular raids on the property. Unfortunately, until the owner decides to do the responsible thing and safeguard his property, the problem will persist. The new bylaw on bad buildings has been approved and when it comes into effect, I will definitely request that the full fine be given to the owner of this and other properties.”

He said he would also be engaging with civic society, like Save Our Berea, to start a letter writing campaign where they will encourage as many residents as possible to write letters to errant owners demanding action from them.

“Recent developments have shown what can be achieved when communities stand together, and I hope this community-centered approach will continue to grow,” he said.