A derelict, council-owned property in Bridgewater, Somerset West remains a source of frustration for residents two years after it was destroyed by a fire.
The building at 1 Voortrekker Road, formerly known as Island Park and most recently Voortrekker Park, was also damaged by flooding in 2023 and has since been declared a problem building by the City of Cape Town.
Locals claim the property has become a hotspot for crime, drug use and prostitution.
Despite the Recreation and Parks Department stating its intention to demolish the structure, residents are growing increasingly impatient with the slow pace of action. They claim the City’s efforts have been insufficient, leaving the property to decay.
Charyke van Wyk, a resident who has been in repeated contact with City officials, said: “People in the mayor’s office were also made aware since 3 July 2023. Numerous times we’ve been told that parks and recreation is looking into the situation.”
On enquiry, the recreation and parks department confirmed the building’s status as a problem building and stated it has been conducting site inspections and engaging on a way forward.
No proof of inspections
But Van Wyk disputes this, stating that the City never provided residents with any proof that inspections were done.
The City claims that the demolition has been stalled by procedural issues with Heritage Western Cape (HWC).
Residents discovered through the minutes of an HWC meeting held on Monday 11 August, that the City’s demolition application was denied due to outstanding fees and missing documentation, including the application form, streetscape photographs, and the title deed.
The department attributed the delay to a short payment, explaining that a fee increase was only communicated to the City last month. “The balance has now been processed and will be submitted to HWC with any outstanding documentation before the end of September,” the department stated.
This explanation has not satisfied Van Wyk, who pointed out that the application was only submitted in May this year, nearly two years after the initial incident. “I do not believe for one second that it would take that long to do the work,” she said.
While the department claims recent inspections show no signs of vagrants occupancy, those who work with the homeless tell a different story.
Susie Pedro from the NPO iThemba, who works closely with the homeless, confirmed there are indeed people living on the property. “I’ve worked alongside Oasis in engaging vagrants living inside the property for the past six months at least. We sometimes encountered up to 35 homeless living there,” she said.
The City previously committed to seeking a court interdict to protect the land from invasion, but this appears to have been unsuccessful.
Lyal McLachlan, chairperson of the Bridgewater Neighbourhood Watch, has started a petition with over 170 signatures to have the building removed.
The petition calls for the immediate demolition of the building to “reclaim our park, reduce crime and improve community morale”.
Due process
“We cannot stand by while our community suffers,” McLachlan said. “The quickest and most effective solution is to demolish and remove the ruinous building. This immediate action is necessary for the well-being of the Bridgewater community.”
In response to resident concerns about safety and illegal activities, the department stated that while due process must be followed for the demolition, it is engaging in temporary measures to secure the site.
It said the property will be cordoned off with temporary signage until the demolition is approved.
The department confirmed it has submitted a demolition permit and hopes to have the building demolished as soon as approval is obtained.
Van Wyk responded: “Due process must be followed, but why did they only start doing it now? Why not when they said it should be demolished. Why have they not secured it two years back? It cannot possibly take two years to do a site inspection, complete the application and get the ball rolling.”
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