A petition to demolish an alleged drug house had more than a thousand signatures only a few hours after it was created.

The online petition, to demolish an abandoned house on Philippi Farm, 57 Punt Road, was created yesterday afternoon (23 July) and posted on the subcouncil and community policing forum (CPF) WhatsApp channels.

Only a few hours later, more than a thousand people had signed.

According to the petition, the house had become a “den of drug abuse and drug trade”.

It states: “The farm on which this house is situated was first in private ownership before it was sold to the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development. After many unsuccessful engagements with a representative of the company who owned the farm and later the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development it is time to take this issue a step further in our quest to have this problem building demolished to stop illegal activity that is often linked to gangsterism.”

Drug den

Ward councillor Elton Jansen said the house has been occupied by drug users and has been directly linked to gang activity and shootings in Strandfontein.

He said the recent shooting of the popular car guard Jason Bailey was also suspected to be linked to the house, owing to its proximity to where the shooting occurred.

The house is situated just outside Strandfontein and is separated from the residential area by a wall. A gap in the wall, lining a public open space in the area, created a quick getaway to the secluded house.

A recovering drug addict in Strandfontein, who spoke to TygerBurger on condition of anonymity, said the house’s infamy in the area had become consolidated as a den of addicts and nefarious activity.

Jansen said: “The house must be demolished so the people who are leasing the farm from the department can farm in peace. It is adjacent and close to Wavecrest, directly impacting Strandfontein residents.”

Strandfontein CPF chair Sandy Schuter said the house “fuels the gang violence and drug trade that spills over and threatens families.

“As a collective, we have done our due diligence. The ward councillor has reached out through the proper channels and tried to engage the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, but has been met with total silence. Not even a basic acknowledgment of any emails.”

Schuter said residents have expressed their support for the demolition of the house. “I’ve seen across multiple Strandfontein community chats, the majority of the residents are in support of this petition.”

Pushback

Not all residents have supported the petition, though.

Schuter said there was a “pushback”.

“What’s most concerning, though, is the push-back we are seeing from some residents. It’s hard to ignore that some of the very people sitting on our local community groups are unhappy about a petition to demolish a known drug den. It really makes you question whose interests are being protected here.”

Jansen added that the legal process to evict the illegal occupiers and demolition of the house is taking too long.

“Hence the reason now for escalating it to the minister for his immediate attention and action,” he said.

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