THE old railway electrical substation in Willingdon Road, Kloof purchased for the Electricity Department for a new electrical sub-station to serve the Kloof area in 2012, has become an eyesore.
Kloof resident, Graham Cleveland, said he reported this matter numerous times to eThekwini Municipality and nearly five years later, nothing has been done.
“This building is an eyesore as it slowly rots, meanwhile people continue to live in this derelict building despite supposed security guards posted to prevent this.”
“Evidently, the guarding system is not working and considering this is a historic/listed building, residents of Kloof are frankly amazed that no care is being taken,” explained Cleveland.
He said residents have read about a future plan for this building to be used to accommodate an up-graded electrical station for the area, but there seems to be no definitive timeframe, plan or budget.
“If this was private property, the municipality would be taking action against the owners for such chronic neglect.”
Cleveland said apart from the building being an eyesore, it has become a home for vagrants.
“Ratepayers of Kloof should not have to put up with this highly visible building being in such shambles with vagrants who are steadily stripping material,” he added.
When Highway Mail visited the property there was a security guard on site who said the place is guarded day and night but refused to let the reporter into the property without authorisation from her superiors.
The Highway Mail asked eThekwini Municipality for comment but there has been no response at the time of going to press.
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