Frustration is mounting among residents of Kariega’s Cannon Hill area as a long-abandoned Transnet-owned building in Stow Road continues to deteriorate, nearly a year after assurances that a new tenant would be secured.

The property, which previously operated as a school, has become a focal point for community concern amid ongoing reports of vandalism, alleged stripping of infrastructure, and claims of unchecked activity taking place in broad daylight.

Tensions have escalated further following threats from a local individual or group claiming they intend to forcibly occupy and “secure” the site by removing those they allege are responsible for the damage.

While Transnet maintains that lease negotiations are now at an advanced stage and that security patrols are ongoing, residents argue that the building has become both an eyesore and a safety risk, highlighting a growing disconnect between official assurances and conditions on the ground.

A concerned resident, Armand du Preez, told UD Express that they were going to land-grab the building.

“The Transnet building is being looted day and night. We are going to grab the building and we’re going to expel and remove all the people that are stripping the building [of its assets] day and night.”

He claimed that law enforcement and Transnet representatives had not been helpful in securing the building and preventing it from being vandalised.

“Nobody cares about this area,” he said. “We are going to take over the Transnet building and we’re going to throw out all those illegal guys that are stripping the building.”

Du Preez added that they were still deciding when they were going to do so, but stressed: “We are going to keep that building safe. We are going to make an example of it for other vandals.”

2025 Transnet response

In February 2025, UD Express enquired with Transnet regarding the building being vandalised and housing the homeless, and they shared their plans for the building.

“The previous tenant absconded the building in December 2024. We are in the process of concluding a lease with another tenant and this process is currently at the evaluation stage,” they shared.

“The building was vandalised following the abscondment by the previous tenant. Transnet team has been making frequent site visits and TFR security conduct regular patrols while preparations to place permanent 24-hour security on site are underway. Our Facilities team has also managed to close off the water to prevent the leak.”

Such preparations for on-site security have not yet materialised.

When asked whether they had plans to use the building in 2025, they claimed that the building would be leased and the tenant would make their own modifications in line with the agreed terms with Transnet, as they did not have any plans to renovate or repurpose the building.

2026 Transnet response

When following up one year later, Transnet told UD Express that “owing to the many parties involved in these types of leases for student accommodation, this process has taken longer than anticipated.

“However, negotiations are now at an advanced stage as the tenant’s bill of quantities is being verified.”

On why they had allowed the building to deteriorate to its current state, they claimed that Transnet Property had been actively engaged in the process of placing a tenant on site, and this process was at an advanced stage.

“Security measures to safeguard the building will be enhanced,” they shared.

Transnet further claimed that their security personnel patrol the building on a daily basis and “they have not found any illegal vagrants while doing their rounds.”

Transnet could not say when the situation surrounding this building would be rectified; however, they added that they could only confirm that Kariega residents could expect a change in the situation “upon the tenant signing a lease agreement.”

Transnet stated that they expected the property to be occupied soon.

“In the interim, security visibility will be increased,” they claimed.

Engagement between ward councillor Roelf Basson, MES Kariega branch representatives and Transnet began in 2025, with the aim of converting the vacant Transnet-owned building into a shelter for homeless individuals. A meeting held on 23 July 2025 with Transnet regional official Ntombekayo Tsako yielded a positive response, with the possibility of a Corporate Social Investment partnership and a proposed site inspection.

Basson shared that no further communication followed, despite repeated attempts to secure feedback.

“In the interim, the building continued to be vandalised, stripped and damaged by fires, leaving it severely deteriorated and raising safety concerns among nearby residents,” he said. “The lack of follow-through represents a missed opportunity to repurpose a public asset, as the need for a homeless shelter in the area remains urgent.”

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