Mowbray Avenue residents fed up with partially demolished property

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02-03-2023
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Benoni City Times
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The owner of the property will investigate allegations of illegal occupation of the property

Residents of Mowbray Avenue are calling for swift action to be taken against the owner of a vacant property, which they claim has become a crime hotspot.

Chairman of Sector Four CPF Alfie Koekemoer recently took the Benoni City Times to the property, where vagrants have taken up residence inside the partially demolished building.

“This house was torn down in 2018 and since then matters have just become worse,” said Koekemoer

“Local recyclers use this property to sort through their bounty and then resort to burning things like rubber to salvage pieces of metal, which can be sold as scrap.

“There is evidence that drugs are sold here and the neighbouring walls are covered in human excrement.

“The situation is out of control and posing a health and safety risk to neighbouring residences.”

Natasha Swanepoel, whose Railway Street property borders on the vacant property, claimed that she has recently lost two six-year-old breeding parrots, due to smoke inhalation.

“The recyclers are constantly burning tyres and other materials resulting in our homes being filled with smoke,” said Swanepoel.

“My bird breeding business has been severely affected. I am worried about our well-being due to the continuous exposure to hazardous toxins.”

A fellow-resident, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed saying they have suffered countless burglaries due to criminals gaining access to their property from the vacant property.

“Criminals have been on our roof attempting to steal our geyser,” she said.

“We are too scared to go outside due to all the strange people lurking near the wall.”

Officials from the Ekurhuleni Metro’s Health and Social Development department conducted a follow-up inspection of the property on February 21 and found that the derelict building and property was in a bad state of repair.

“We are currently unable to issue a notice to the owner of the property as we have no alternative contact details, however the complaint has been referred to the Building Control and Solid Waste Management department for assistance,” said Zweli Dlamini, spokesperson for the metro.

“In terms of the municipal by-laws, it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that the premises do not create public health hazards or nuisance.

Property owner responds

Responding on behalf of the property owner, Nabeela Moola of N Moola Incorporated, said in a statement that the allegations are sensationalised and wholly refuted.

“We confirm that eviction proceedings were instituted against the various tenants occupying the property, due to their failure to honour their rental obligations.

“Eviction orders were obtained and successfully executed in July 2021.

“The owner of the property commenced demolition works on the property in order to prevent the re-occupation of the property.

Moola continued by saying that it is the property owner’s intention to construct a medical centre on the property.

“Our client is waiting for plans and drawings from the architects in relation to the construction as well as other approvals and licenses required prior to the commencement of construction,” said Moola.

“The owner is unaware of any illegal occupation of the property but these allegations will be investigated.”