Residents worry about unsavoury activities in disused building

Illegal drug and sexual activities are taking place inside the abandoned building behind the Nerine Pre-Primary School, residents have claimed.

They also claim that people occupy the building, and feel the situation is serious and needs to be addressed.

In order to have the building demolished or repaired, several concerned residents signed a petition about three years ago.

“Many people have signed the petition.We want this building to be demolished or fixed. They’re busy doing illegal stuff inside the building and we suspect that they’re watching our houses.

“We’re concerned about our safety, not to mention the safety of our children. We don’t want them to be exposed to these illegal activities,” said a resident who wished to remain anonymous

Another resident added that the occupants are frequently making fire inside the building.

“The fire department had to put out fires quite a few times now. It’s unsafe and unacceptable. They should fix the building or demolish it,” said the resident.

According to Dawie Steenkamp, chairman of Nerine Pre-Primary School, and also a member of the Laerskool Concordia’s governing body, the Department of Education is working to find a solution.

“The public is under the impression that the building is owned by Concordia, but it belongs to the government. We’ve been in contact with the department and they came to have a look at the building.

“They’re trying to sort it out. We understand the resident’s concerns and we also want this problem solved. The doors and windows had been bricked up to prevent occupants from getting in. Unfortunately it didn’t keep them away,” said Steenkamp.

The Advertiser is still awaiting a comment from the Department of Education.

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