RESIDENTS at Kenneth Gardens Housing Estate in Umbilo are appealing for proper fencing be erected around the grounds following recent incidents where stolen cars were parked off in the property.
According to a concerned resident, who asked not to be named, residents had noticed a van and a VW parked on the property towards the end of last year. A few days later the vehicles were removed.
“When we complained, the police literally arrived 10 minutes too late! We also noticed someone taking photos of the vehicles.”
“This has happened again this year and we are worried that criminals are bringing these cars onto the grounds and parking them here. We are concerned for our safety. We are appealing to the municipality to erect better fencing around Kenneth Gardens so these criminals can’t get in,” she said.
The resident said vagrants from Congella Park also gathered on the property and dug through the refuse bins.
“The soup kitchen is now feeding vagrants and not only the residents from Kenneth Gardens. Our washing is also being stolen off the line.”
“We feel unsafe that they are lying in the park at Kenneth Gardens from 7am when the soup kitchen only opens at 11am. The children can’t play in the park and parents are fearful. They also use the grounds as a toilet,” she said.
She said she had approached the Housing Department, but nothing had been done.
“Our complaints fall on deaf ears. People are breaking into flats and living there when they haven’t been allocated flats. Something needs to be done to stop people gaining access to the property,” she said.
When approached for comment on the request for fencing, eThekwini Municipality said historically there had been a preference for open areas with no fencing on the estate. “We have reviewed the situation and have been approached by the tenants to fence Kenneth Gardens. The City relies on the collection of rentals in order to be in a position to provide maintenance and upgrading for this type of property. However, we are facing a challenge which is the poor payment of monthly rentals.”
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