An unfinished residential development that has been an eyesore in the heart of the Strand CBD for well over a decade, is now being blamed for an influx of rats in the vicinity amid rising health concerns by neighbours.
The property is located on the corner of Mills and Steyn streets, and is parallel to Main Road. Large signboards erected 10 years ago advertise the new De Strand development, comprising apartment blocks and an underground parking area. The boards state the development was due to open in 2015.
But construction was halted long before the scheduled occupation date and the building site has since appeared abandoned, with the exception of a guard and his family who apparently reside on the premises in a caretaker role.
“Water pools on the ground and remains stagnant over lengthy periods,” an employee of an adjacent business, who asked not to be named, stated.
“We see rats running around the property regularly. It’s definitely a health concern.”
Several other neighbouring residents concurred, stating the eyesore appeared abandoned and was a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
“In all the time we’ve been here we’ve never seen any progress on the development,” personnel at an adjacent business stated.
On inspecting the site, a man who identified himself as Heavier Sigauke said that he was appointed by the owner of the property to safeguard the premises.
“I live here with my family,” said Sigauke, who pointed to a container and a washing line where laundry was hanged to dry. He said he was unaware of a rat problem and stated that he regularly places rat poison at various points to address any risk of rat infestation.
The grounds of the development were covered in water, which is also dotted with overgrown shrubs and half-finished pillars.
Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said the property is zoned for general residential purposes.
He added that before any action can be taken, it must be declared a problem property in terms of the City of Cape Town’s Problem Property Bylaw of 2019.
“The current state of the property triggers the criteria of the bylaw, and a notice to declare a problem property must be served on the owners,” Andrews explained.
Under the bylaw, one of the outcomes of the process can be the issuing of a fine or instruction to demolish, he further elaborated.
Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, said residents can log complaints via the City’s call centre (0860 103 089) or by contacting the Strand Environmental Health office on 021 444 4821/1821.
Alternatively, residents can visit the reception desk at the Strand Municipal Office.
“[Once complaints are logged], the environmental health practitioner will conduct a site visit and, based on the outcome of the inspection, the health department will take the appropriate action,” she said. “If the issue does not form part of the City’s health department mandate, the matter will be referred to the correct City department to attend to it.”
On enquiry, a spokesperson for the property’s owner said they will attend to the complaints and conduct an inspection of the property.
