FOLLOWING months of trying to hold a meeting with the police regarding the future of Excelsior Court in Berea, ward 31 councillor, Chris Pappas, said he and residents were once again let down.
After many postponements, a meeting was diarised for 15 February, however Pappas said on 14 February he received an email stating the meeting was to be postponed indefinitely because of the unavailability of Major General Radebe.
“I was told Major General Radebe was too busy with urgent commitments and the police would communicate at a later date to organise a meeting. This is unacceptable as we have been waiting for two months to meet to discuss the building, and at every turn, SAPS have been unavailable. We have been nice for too long and action needs to be taken,” he said.
Pappas and residents living in and around the block still held a meeting to discuss the way forward and Pappas said they decided on a three pronged approach to tackle the issue.
“The first is that there was money made available to Public Works to revamp the building and we are going to check if that money can be allocated to Excelsior Court. Another approach is to contact the DA’s Justice Portfolio Committee to see what is stalling the eviction case between the SAPS and the inhabitants of the building,” he said.
Pappas said the third approach was to get hold of the reports on the building compiled by Fire and Safety and the Health Department and use these against the various departments.
He said he had received feedback from Fire and Safety, however he was still waiting on the Health Department to get back to him.
“The report stated that the building was inspected and the premises was found in a severe state of disrepair. The building is equipped with fixed fire equipment, there is no access control to the building, and no caretaker or supervisor was present at the time of inspection. The complaint was escalated to Mr Hoosen Moolla from iTrump to record as a bad building,” said Pappas.
He said he was told by Fire and Safety that a follow up inspection will be conducted and photos taken for submission with a report to the Department of Public Works, however no positive feedback has been received as yet.
“I will be putting pressure on the Health Department until something comes from them. I still have to approach the Justice Portfolio, and will be contacting the precinct development and planning department from National Public Works, as the representative will need to start research into this building. I am also going to approach Mr Moolla to see if an inspection was done,” said Pappas.
At the meeting on 15 February, Pappas said residents had mentioned they felt neglected and the general health and safety of the building was their biggest concern.
“Doctors who are on the committee of concerned residents which has been formed to deal with Excelsior Court are concerned about the health implications of flies, rats and rubbish on the property. An architect on the committee said that as a result of the constant running water at the building, there are architectural problems and water damage,” he said.
Pappas said that at the meeting, he asked residents to put together a database of who is living at the building.
“The building is a big indictment on the police and Department of Public Works that this is how they are making their police members live. This is another government asset that has gone to waste,” said Pappas.
