The fight is still on over abandoned buildings in Windsor
Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs said that there are facilities for displaced people but they choose not to use them because there they are obliged to follow rules and regulations.
Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs said that the buildings Courtyard in Earls Avenue, Windsor East and 22 Premiers in Windsor West meet all the requirements to be classified as problem properties as per the Problem Property By-Law, section 7.
Problem Property By-Law, Section 7 states that authorised officials have the power to declare a building or property as a ‘problem property’.
The Courtyard in Windsor East is falling apart and has become a house for drug users. “I’ve witnessed this first-hand; this is where they smoke drugs. The building was cleaned a couple of weeks ago.”
There are residents in the building, and it has been in a terrible state for over six years. Jacobs faces another problem in getting the issue addressed; no government department wants to take responsibility. “I think the legislation has to be looked at again. At the moment every entity is saying not my problem including the owners and this is what we are left with.”
Jacobs explained that having taken on and argued the case for residents with many City officials, entities, mayoral committee members and the office of the executive mayor, it is clear that the system is flawed.
“The system is the by-law, which is a law passed and managed by the municipality. The entities cannot seem to find synergy in dealing with the matter of problem properties effectively and efficiently.”
The building is an environmental hazard, and health risk. There are big rats around the building. There are no windows, doors or roof. “The residents of ward 98 however, cannot continue to live in squalor and in a hazardous and unhealthy environment caused by flawed regulations, lack of will from entities to provide a safe environment for residents, and owners who shirk the responsibility of their properties. Not only does it devalue Windsor, but it is also a crime spot,” said Jacobs.
The building in Windsor West has been in a horrible state for over five years. “The city and police have been here with multiple raids and yet the problem can’t be solved. Last week Mathabo from Windsor Community Support Services (WCSS) had to come there and identify the body of a woman,” added Jacobs.
Linden Station communication officer Sergeant Takalani Sibiya they are aware of the body that was found in the building in Windsor West, but no case was opened, and the cause of death was a drug overdose.
She added the two buildings are used by people to consume drugs and they have never had a special operation where they went there and found drugs or big amounts of drugs.
Jacobs added said that she will go harder on this issue. “I am going to push every corner I can push because this is a problem that is growing and getting out of hand, and nobody wants to take responsibility.”
“Our ever and quickly changing political landscape also makes it harder to hold any executive to account, but I have once again asked the mayor’s office for intervention and will follow up on the revision of the legislation pertaining to the problem property by-law,” Jacobs told Randburg Sun.
City of Johannesburg can not be reached for a comment.
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