Scottburgh ‘drug dens’ to be shut down
Erskine Street residents are ecstatic that something is being done at last.
THE Public Protector has finally jumped in to insist that something is done about dilapidated former police houses that had become home to vagrants, criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts.
The Mail harped on about these eyesores in Erskine Street on several occasions, but we have to admit that it was actually members of the public who tipped us off and one William Pienaar who reported it to the Public Protector.
Now the prefabricated ‘shells’ of houses – which have been basically ignored by the Department of Public Works for the past three years – could soon be demolished.
Ranjay Narain, an investigator at the KwaZulu-Natal’s branch of the Public Protector’s Office, contacted the acting regional manager of the Department of Public Works, requesting that:
“Urgent steps be taken to attend to the matter by either having these structures rehabilitated and properly utilised, alternatively demolished so that they cannot be used as a safe-haven for illegal and dangerous activities.
“We would be extremely grateful if you could address the matter as one of urgency and also furnish us with a progress report regarding the steps being taken in the matter.”
“The houses have created an extremely serious security hazard as well as a health and sanitation danger to the residents of the area”.
Erskine Street residents are ecstatic that something is being done at last.
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