VIDEO: Criminals and vagrants invade abandoned Pinetown house
Following the community's concern of a dilapidated house in Pinetown, residents have called for the former mayorship to be reinstated.
AN abandoned house on Leeds Crescent in Pinetown is among the many properties in Durban that has been occupied unlawfully by vagrants and those who use it as a haven for criminal activities.
The property was abandoned by its owners earlier this year. It was vandalised to below market value by criminal elements and the cost of the damage is expected to reach R650 000. A report of the damage will be submitted by the owner for delivery to FNB bank.
ALSO READ: Historic Kloof building is an eyesore
Andreas Mathios, a resident in the area said the neighbourhood watch network in Leeds Crescent has over many years been in consultation with ward councillors, the eThekwini Municipality and the owners of these premises. He said this has happened before in other properties in the Durban area.
“People do not take accountability for their properties. There should be a process in place where you get 21 days to make submissions as to why you have left your property in such a state and that property can either be attached and auctioned off or some other form of accountability must take place. We can not allow the criminal elements to destroy and devalue neighbourhoods,” said Mathios.
He believes this is a tactic which is being circumvented throughout the country which is an indication of poor management by the municipalities. He added, they should reconsider bringing back the art and effect of having a municipality that is run by individual mayors, not by city managers.
ALSO READ: Pinetown ‘drug haven’ cleared
“We need to bring back mayorship in South Africa so that accountability can be held for each and every area and a budget put together allowing us to run our areas effectively. At the moment it is not working. It has not worked for over 20 years. I’m putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of eThekwini Municipality,” said Mathios.
WATCH: Video of the property on Leeds Crescent in Pinetown.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
