POLOKWANE – Residents in Grobler Street are worried that a vacant house, belonging to the Department of Public Works, may become a hub for criminals.
Polokwane Municipality Spokesperson, Matshidiso Mothapo confirmed the house is the property of the Department.
A resident in the area, who wanted to stay anonymous due to fear of victimisation, says the vacant house poses a danger for people in the area as it can become a haven for criminals.
The MEC for the Department of Public Works, Jerry Ndou, and his team visited this house as well as an abandoned house in Oost Street last Thursday to assess the situation and propose a possible solution.
“Due to violent break-ins at the houses, the people who lived in the houses had to be moved to a safer location. In the time between them moving out and the department coming up with a new plan with regard to the houses, they have stood empty,” Ndou explains.
“We will start cleaning up and repairing the damage to the houses immediately. Upon completion, we as a department will use the houses for offices as they are centrally located and ideal for office space. When they are converted into offices, there will be full-time security on duty at the premises,” Ndou concludes.
