Residents believe that the building has rendered the town unsafe, and place nearby businesses under enormous pressure, because it is attracting crime and unsavoury elements.
The building is said to be the home and roost of gang members and criminals of all types.
For the past couple of years, residents, including business people and police have been asking for the building to be removed or revamped.
Alfred Woodington, who runs a business in the CBD, says his business is the latest to fall victim to the criminal gangs allegedly making use of the building.
He says a man arrived at his bar situated along Leeuwpoort Street, then grabbed two bottles of whisky before running towards the building.
Woodington bravely went to the building and found the suspect, who matches the description of the whisky thief.
He reported the matter to the police and requested that police conduct a raid on the building.
“Police went along with the idea and stormed the building hours later,” says Woodington.
Woodington says they carried out the raid and during the search they arrested several occupants of the building for different crimes, including possession of drugs and suspected stolen goods.
According to Lieut-Col Khumbulani Ndaba, of the Boksburg SAPS, nearby residents often complain to the police of criminal behaviour associated with the proximity of the abandoned building.
“Since the eviction of the occupants of the building, the property has become a cause of concern.
“We have had lots of complaints about criminals who steal from nearby businesses, rob people walking along the area, while those visiting the lake are also targeted. Some even run the risk of being raped,” says Ndaba.
Woodington concurred with the police and other local business people that the property is encouraging criminal activities and provides a criminal hideout.
“Young drug addicts from the building target our businesses and people walking down the streets. Many business people have been affected by these criminals, but they are afraid to speak out.
“Instead others just close down their businesses, something which is not good considering we are already facing a high rate of unemployment,” says Woodington.
Woodington says at night the streets are very dark, because the streetlights are also not working.
He is aware that almost a year ago, the metro took a decision to demolish the building. Woodington blames management for the delay.
Early last year, former spokesperson for the metro, Sam Modiba, confirmed that, for the sake of the neighbourhood’s safety, the municipality took a decision to demolish the building.
He said the process of appointing a specialist or demolition company to execute the demolition would take up to five months.
The dilapidated building had been abandoned for almost three years now.
It was once used as a home for destitute people by the People Rescue Centre, but now, the building is occupied by dozens of vagrants, who have made it their home after the former occupants were forcibly evicted by the metro, in June 2011.
No comment had been received from the metro at the time of going to press.
