Mind-boggling, but true.
One area in Vry Street qualifies with open overgrown spaces, making it a haven for possible criminal elements, an informal dumping site, blocked sewage lines, cable theft, potholes and no street lights.
This is not by any means only a service delivery issue.
A resident in the area recently contacted the Standerton Advertiser, adding her voice to another local, who is dissatisfied about conditions at a specific house in mid-town.
Both these residents wished to stay anonymous.
According to the first resident, a rat plague is developing in Vry Street and children’s safety, when playing in the street, is also a factor.
The Standerton Advertiser published a short article in its edition of March 18 about the house at the intersection of Schwickard Street and Paarl Street, which is not maintained.
According to information, this specific house is the property of the Department of Public Works in Mbombela.
Other examples that were given include the house, painted green, next to the Jerrie van Vuuren-building, a house in Berg Street opposite the Cosmos Retirement Village and a house in Walter Sisulu Drive.
Ownership of some properties in Standerton falls under the police, the source said.
Maintenance on rental property is not that clear cut.
A Google-search on property advice indicated that landlords are responsible for the structural maintenance of the property, which would include the painting and maintenance of the external walls and the roof.
According to the author, this would include repairing roof leaks, damp and rising damp.
In a nutshell, electrical wiring, plumbing, the stove, geyser, and electric fence, alarm systems, automatic gate motors and pool pumps, if applicable, are included.
The tenant’s responsibility, according to the writer, is to look after the internal aspects of the property and the upkeep of the pool and garden, where necessary.
Landlords have to ensure the property complies with health and safety regulations at the time of occupation by the tenant, and the tenant has to do likewise.
Should normal ‘wear and tear’ occur, any repairs are required to be made by the landlord.
Tenants are responsible for keeping all gutters and pipes free from obstruction, blocked drains and roof leaks due to gutters that were not regularly cleaned.
The Standerton Advertiser tried to reach the department in Mbombela on Thursday, March 17, using their landline number.
A message indicated that the number is out of service and the national Department of Public Works in Pretoria is out of service as well.
An email address was obtained from the province’s website and the reasons asked why maintenance, on some houses in town, has been stopped.
A WhatsApp-message was also sent to the communications manager of Lekwa Municipality, Thobeka Mtshiselwa, enquiring whether a list is available on property owners in Standerton.
Readers will be informed on the feedback from the various quarters.
Linda van Aswegen, local estate agent, said on Thursday that Standerton does not really have an area where rich people stay, since old houses, some restored, and new houses are scattered in streets,
Van Aswegen added that open spaces also influence decisions of potential buyers, as well as vagrants occupying empty houses.
“We also send in the necessary people from time to time to do repairs before marketing properties.
“That is for our own account.”
