Living next to a nightmare say community
Absent or uncaring homeowners cause stress for neighbours and businesses nearby when their properties become shack farms, or a refuge for individuals who occupy the land informally.
Absent or uncaring homeowners cause stress for neighbours and businesses nearby when their properties become shack farms, or a refuge for individuals who occupy the land informally.
31 and 33 Fourth Avenue in Melville are examples –Alex Konstantinou says they are owned by his family’s trust.
The properties have become a warren of individual dwellings and informal businesses.
Trevor Wilkes, a neighbour said, “House 33, especially, is a nightmare as there is no electricity or water as they have been cut off by the city resulting in the property becoming a health hazard for everyone because fires are made with whatever the occupiers have available, including rubber and plastic.”
He does not desire publicity but ‘if that’s what it takes to ply pressure to the city to take decisive action, then I am willing to go to the newspapers to achieve that’.
Rats, foul smells and human excrement were seen when the Northcliff Melville Times visited the site.
Wilkes also spoke of potential criminal elements that stay at the property, adding, “My solar panels have been stolen countless times off my roof with other property owners having copper pipes and movable items stolen. We believe the culprits are the inhabitants of these properties.”
Nicky Rofail of Mi Pi Chi guest house opposite said, “These properties have been a nightmare for years. They are a health hazard, and my clients often complain about my accommodation stating it is in a bad location due to the state of the houses opposite me.”
Sesethu Phehulkwayo who lives at number 31 said he has been living at the house for six years. He and eight other tenants live and allegedly operate their businesses legally at the premises and ‘also don’t like what is happening next door.’
Patrick Maphosa, originally from Alex, said he and about 17 others live at house 33. “We stay here as it’s better than being in the streets even though there is no power or water. We burn fires to cook and stay warm.”
Konstantinou said he and the trust are dealing with the problems.
Complaints by neighbours over several years of by-law infringements and health hazards resulted in an inspection of the properties being conducted on June 15. Integrated Visible Service Delivery (IVSD) operational manager for regulatory compliance that deals with problem and hijacked properties, Naazim Kajee confirmed the inspection which included environmental health, JMPD and the Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (Crum) took place.
He said, “The purpose of the operation was to determine the current situation at the property and to find out from occupants what is going on and how long they have been living there. A file will be handed over to the group forensic investigators to take this matter forward.”
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said, “Operations of this nature form part of the calendars of citizen relations and urban management.”
Ward 87 councillor Bridget Steer confirmed she and residents requested the Region B IVSD unit to inspect the premises. “The properties have been registered on the problem properties list. If safety risks are deemed sufficient, they can order the owner to remove people living there within a specified period at his own cost.”
Residents are encouraged to report problem properties to the IVSD via Deon Mynhardt DeonM@joburg.org.za and to complaintsLERegionB@joburg.org.za
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