Council has committed to regular follow-ups and the monitoring of a community eyesore that continues to be a source of frustration and deep concern.
The problem, the shell of an vandalised house on the corners of Broadlands Road and Johanna Presence Street in Rusthof, Strand, has become nothing more than a notorious dwelling invaded by illegal occupants who have further contributed to the residential property’s dilapidated state and raises the ire of surrounding community members concerned for their health and safety.
Despite windows closed off and entrances bricked up after the City of Cape Town declared the house a problem building nearly four years ago, the privately owned property remains inhabited by vagrants who forced their way in and remain at the root of endless complaints, including nuisance, public indecency, unhygienic practices, lewd behaviour, suspected criminal activity and loitering.
Fuelling further complaints was a raging fire that recently broke out on the premises and threatened the property of a neighbouring resident, who wrote to the newspaper in hopes of a resolution.
According to one resident the blaze broke out on Tuesday 29 November last year. “Around 14:00 that day I received a phone call that the said property was on fire. On my arrival my garage/carport roof had caught alight. Further damage to the windows of my house as well as the wall fence was incurred.
“Vagrants are still occupying the property, even after the incident,” penned the resident. “There are no ablution facilities, water or electricity, so they do their business in the yard, causing a health hazard to the surrounding neighbours. There are now waste materials, such as planks, rags and paper, both inside and outside, creating a new fire hazard to the property. These illegal occupants are also a safety hazard and the cause of criminal activity, which a spate of burglaries is testament to.”
The resident calls for “drastic” action to get the vagrants off the property and either close it permanently or demolish it.
Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for the City law enforcement, on enquiry confirmed the City’s problem building unit is investigating the complaint and, in light of the suggestion, said only the owner of the property can apply for a demolition order.
He said the vacant residential property was officially declared a problem building in August 2019, a process that’s in line with the problem building bylaw 2010. The same bylaw calls on the owner to secure the property to prevent illegal occupation, and all entrances were bricked up in 2021.
“The owner was instructed to secure the property to prevent illegal occupation,” Dyason said. “Regular follow-ups will be conducted and regular monitoring of the property will take place to ensure the owner complies.” He added the onus to rid the property of vagrants rests on the owner, who would need to lay charges of trespassing with local police and appoint an attorney to apply for eviction orders.
Pressed on when the City would intervene should the owner fail to take action and safeguard the community, Dyason simply reiterated it is the owner’s responsibility to secure the property to prevent illegal occupation, but failed to elaborate on when it would step in.
On why the owner failed to adhere to the City’s instructions, he replied: “The City does not have confirmed information on why the owner is not looking after the property.”
It was further established the owner is in fact in a dire situation, having lost his parents and presumed to be in need of social services himself.
A resident familiar with the 45-year-old owner’s plight stated he himself lives with other vagrants in the house and battles a drug habit that oftens sees him out on the streets.
Subcouncil 8 chairperson Chantal Cerfontein said council had partnered with various community stakeholders and organisations in a Ward 85 clean-up campaign focused on the canal along Onverwacht Street and Boundary Way, and is scheduled to take place on Thursday 27 April. Cerfontein said help is at hand with the removal of waste, which can be arranged with the City’s Urban Waste Management Directorate; this should the homeowner agree to clean-up action and willing volunteers come forward to offer their assistance.
