It is with increasing levels of despair and frustration that I write about the state of Fourways, and in particular, the general areas surrounding Fourways Mall and Fourways Crossing.
To capture it in one word, the area is filthy.
The level of urban decay that has been allowed to take hold in this general precinct should be of major concern to developers, homeowners and businesses alike.
Once considered a generally affluent area, Fourways is fast becoming little more than an extension of Diepsloot.
Poorly co-ordinated roadworks, uncontrolled hawking, littering, lawless taxi operators and drivers, informal taxi ranks with no facilities for the thousands of daily commuters, crumbling roads, inadequate storm water and sewerage systems and what has to be the worst traffic congestion in the country, have rendered the area one to be avoided rather than one to be desired.
The decline is visible and rapid and nothing gets done to call the municipality and other local authorities to account for their wanton dereliction of duty.
Developers who are hoping to proposition new owners to the area, as well as existing businesses, need to either urgently put pressure on those responsible for the provision and maintenance of the most basic elements of infrastructure in the area to turn it around, or else face increasing prospects of business losses. Residents too, if not already, will experience a decline in the value of their properties, for which no amount of high security boundary walls or boomed access gates will compensate.
I know of many people who actively avoid coming anywhere near the general Fourways area and objectively, who can blame them.
To anyone considering buying in the area, my advice is caveat emptor.
