Homeless people take over an abandoned house on Agliotti Avenue

The residents on Agliotti Avenue say they have lived in fear since a group of homeless people moved into an abandoned property.

The house on the property burnt to the ground three years ago, and the owner is nowhere to be found.

According to a resident in the area, who spoke to the Kempton Express on condition of anonymity, fearing recourse, the number of homeless people living on the property has increased dramatically.

“Small children live there as well, and I’m not even sure if they have running water and a toilet,” she said.

During a visit to the area by the Kempton Express, it saw those staying on the property walking in the yard with buckets and bottles of water.

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In recent weeks, a resident claims there have been incidents of some homeless people trying to break into her house.

“My son caught one of them trying to access our home by climbing the wall.

“He asked him what he was doing, and the guy responded by saying he was looking to see if there was anybody at home. My son told him to go away, and he left,” she said.

In a separate incident, a homeless person was found hiding in the bushes next to a house gate.

“We presume he wanted to pounce on whoever pulled up to the house in their car.”

Following this incident, the Agliotti Avenue resident said she cut down the bushes outside her house as a preventative measure.

Ward 16 Clr Jaco Terblanche spoke to the Kempton Express.

“The stand is private land. According to the law, the owner is the only person with the right to remove homeless people from the stand.

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“I did everything possible to get the name and contact details of the owner to evict the people,” he said.

Terblanche said he asked the Environmental Health Department to send a health inspector to inspect the condition of the stand and see if it complies with the environmental health by-laws. However, the department told him it had issued a notice to the owner to comply.

“There is no quick solution regarding this complaint. We are guided by the law in terms of how to resolve it,’ he said.

The Kempton Express contacted CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini for comment.

“This must be reported to the police so law enforcement can take its course.

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“EMPD Kempton Park Precinct has received a complaint to remove those living on the property. The matter was investigated, and only two people were found on the property and instructed to leave.

“Unfortunately, this is private property, and the owner must protect their property. The owner of any property must take responsibility for their property,” he said.

Additionally, Dlamini said residents in the area who notice any crimes or criminal activity must report it to the SAPS.

“These homeless walk around and move into any available open stand or property, putting the pressure back on homeowners to ensure their properties are secured,” he said.