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Abandoned properties a headache for Hillary residents

The public is urged to sign a petition to address the mandate of the so called "problem buildings" in Durban.

TWO abandoned and derelict properties are causing residents in Hillary’s Dowland Avenue endless headaches as they try to find people willing to take responsibility for the upkeep and control of the properties which they feel are affecting the value of their homes.

Victoria and Nicholas Mkhize have been trying for months to find out who owns and is responsible for the property next door to their own home.

ALSO READ: Abandoned properties attract criminal elements

It has been established Transnet owns the properties.

“Ever since the previous residents left, it has been quite a concern as its condition keeps getting worse.”

“I am worried about the safety of my family because this house has left us exposed to many possibilities to be harmed. I have also noticed the gardening service no longer comes to cut the grass and as a result, it becomes a haven for criminals,” said Victoria who first raised the matter in an email to her city councillor, Samantha Windvogel in July.

The abandoned property make life difficult for the neighbours on either side of 49 Dowland Avenue which is described by those living near it as dangerous and smelly.

Windvogel, as ward councillor for Ward 65, is all too familiar with the property in question along with another on the same road as she had been trying to find out who takes responsibility for them since 2016.

In an email in August this year to Lionel Jasmin of eThekwini Municipality’s building inspector Team 2, Windvogel expressed her annoyance at the response she had received from the variety of people she had tried to contact about the property.

“This matter has become extremely frustrating as I have been battling to get the grass cut and garden cleaned up since 2016,” said Windvogel adding that she had been pushed pillar to pos.”

“I have had Metro removed criminals who have made both properties their homes on two occasions,” she said.

“In August there had been a fire at 56 Dowland Avenue which had been inhabited by squatters who had moved into the property.

“The properties are in a disgusting state with the grass and bush metres high. The residents are living in fear and the values of their properties have decreased. This is absolutely not fair to the ratepayers,” said Windvogel.

She said Transnet’s Technical Manager, Richard Law, had told her he didn’t know when exactly the matter would be addressed. The Queensburgh News has also tried, unsuccessfully to get any response from Transnet and has attempted to contact Law telephonically.

 

Dumping sites

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Central Durban chairperson, Cllr Christopher Pappas, said the situation was untenable.

“In terms of Land Use management and building inspector, we are facing a situation where law-abiding citizens are left to fend for themselves while the City does very little. It’s the same all over the City,” he said in response to a request to help from Windvogel.

All attempts by the Queensburgh News to get a response on this issue from the City’s real estate department as well as the building inspectorate has proven fruitless.

ALSO READ: VIDEO: Criminals and vagrants invade abandoned Pinetown house

Meanwhile, the Mkhize family are left with what they describe as a “disaster zone” next door to their impeccably kept garden and home.

“My grandchild plays in this garden, but there are all sorts of snakes and vermin that come into the yard from that property,” said Mkhize when Queensburgh News visited the neighbourhood. “It is really not fair that we have to deal with this.”

As Windvogel said in an email copied to Queensburgh News, to Tony Naidoo at Transnet Corporate head office in Johannesburg. “The properties are used as a dumping site. The stench is unbearable and it is infested with rodents. This affects the community as it is extremely hazardous and unsightly.”

Prem Naidoo who also lives in the area said there has been rubbish that has been dumped in the properties and his attempts to report it to Richard Law at Transnet. “We couldn’t find out who owned the property and once we figured out that it was Transnet, we have been dealing with Mr Law and he keeps telling us he is getting quotes and putting plans in place, but nothing has happened.”

Naidoo said there had also been incidents of violence when people who were squatting in the building harassed neighbours.

 

Sign the petition

DA Whip of economic development and planning in eThekwini, councillor Marlaine Nair, whose mandate in the cluster included so-called “problem buildings” said she had previously tried to push a motion in council for the matter of such buildings to be addressed.

“I have previously put forth a motion in council for the Problem Building by-law to be enforced, but the motion was disallowed,” said Nair. “I am currently running an online petition to draw attention to this before taking back to council early next year. I need as many people to sign my petition as possible,” she said.

CTA: check out the Queensburgh News Facebook page for a link to Cllr Nair’s online petition or to have your say on this issue which is prevalent in many areas of the city.

 

 

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