Nightmare neighbours set dogs on municipal officials

The complaints first streamed in a month ago after Maryna Heyman complained about the residents throwing stones over the wall at her daycare students on a previous occasion.

The daycare principal also complained about a potential hygiene hazard, stating that the property was left in an unkempt, untidy and unhygienic state.

The brooding situation again flared up this week after complaints from Steelpoort Street residents came streaming in about an illegal electrical connection between the house and one of the green electrical boxes outside on the street.

Mr Bernard van der Berg (a resident) was concerned for the safety of the children walking past the illegal connection, who could potentially suffer electrocution if they made contact with the wires.

According to Mr Van der Berg, the house that was illegally occupied had its electricity cut off more than a month ago by the municipality, resulting in the squatters reconnecting their electricity illegally.“The green box is standing open. Children walk past regularly, and I have been reporting it to the municipality for more than a week.”

The Middelburg Observer referred the complaints to DA Ward Councillor Deon van der Merwe, who repeatedly raised the concerns to STLM.

Clr van der Merwe told the Middelburg Observer on Tuesday that the electrical department went to remove the connection, and the squatters set their dogs on them.

The municipal officials then returned with law enforcement in tow to disconnect the house, which owes more than R138 000 on their municipal account.

The Middelburg Observer contacted the property owner, who admitted that the tenant he had an agreement with not only failed to pay rent, resulting in him filing for an eviction, but also subletted the property without his permission.

“The rent and municipal accounts started falling behind, which resulted in me having to pursue the eviction process, but the tenants blatantly said that they wouldn’t leave unless the police forced them out. I don’t live in Middelburg, and the whole situation became hard to manage,” the homeowner stated.

He, however, confirmed that the people moved out on Tuesday afternoon, leaving them with thousands of rands of debt.
“I suspect now that the municipality was involved, they decided to leave.”

• Clr van der Merwe urged residents to report illegal connections to the municipality, “It is a frustration when people illegally occupy houses, deface them and pester their neighbours, but nuisance is a civil problem that the municipality can’t necessarily do something about. The municipality can act on illegal connections and enforce by-laws, but evicting squatters remains the property owner’s responsibility. As for grievances between neighbours, if it can’t be sorted out civilly, then the disputes need to be reported to the SAPS.”

• The Middelburg Observer issued a media enquiry to STLM about the dogs being set on municipal officials, but no response was received by the time of publication.

It was confirmed that the squatters evacuated the Steelpoort residence, and the electrical department removed the illegal connection.

• On Thursday, Clr Hennie Niemann said the municipal electrical department disconnected the illegal connections and locked the electricity box.