Abandoned Witpoortjie business property now a hive of criminality

As industry dies, the skeleton left behind breeds a violent beast.

From the Corlett Avenue bridge in and out of Witpoortjie, the sight of a double-storey steel awing could once be seen. The old pallet supplier that used to occupy the land closed in January, with the abandoned property taking on a more sinister identity and reputation with each passing day. Gunshots, screams, drugs and general lawlessness have now become the only by-product of the once fertile property.

Sharing a boundary wall with the old pallet supplier is the Integra Motor Group. The business has been a positive force within Roodepoort for 22 years and has occupied their current premises for 12 of those. In recent weeks, the company has borne the brunt of the criminal activity that happens in the fields around the cul-de-sac at the end of President Road.

Franchise Director, Andries de Jager, recalled how the now daily incidents began toward the end of February and have escalated ever since. Every structure right up to Integra’s boundary wall has been stripped of anything of resale value – from the electrical wiring and window frames to the geysers and taps from what used to be staff accommodation.

“Every morning we come here and find something new,” said Andries.

The economic damage to the barren industrial site is mirrored by the costs Integra have had to incur as a result of the decay. They have spent no small amount to reinforce access points, add surveillance cameras and bring in several guards for overnight patrols. Even with these measures in place, the company had been burgled, losing over R250 000 worth of parts they had stored from a sister franchise.

Live wires from illegal connections form a web of potential danger across the fields as illegal wiring spreads out in all directions from the site.

The cul-de-sac near the bridge has become a makeshift dump and the boundary fence that once circled the property has vanished. Andries’ staff have heard the shouts of women in distress, seen regular drug use and they themselves have been issued with death threats.

“You just don’t go through there when it is dark,” he warned.

Accusations of police inactivity have heightened Andries’ anger, as he claims repeated reports to the police have gone attended.

Using the destruction of the steel awning as an example, he said, “A truck load of guys came here with a generator. A guy climbed to the top with an angle grinder and started chopping up the roof. In two weeks the whole thing was gone and they (police) didn’t come once.”

Even after gunfights between the men stripping the property and Andries and the private security officers, he claimed police did not bother to investigate.

“I am just thankful to the guys from DMS Security, they have spent hours in the dark in this field,” he added.

Persistence has paid off as Andries has caught the ear of Roodepoort Police station commander, Brigadier Irene Sekwakwa, who has agreed to a meeting to discuss a possible solution to the battleground behind him.