How is it possible for the local council to take action against home owners contravening by-laws, such as building without Council approved plans, yet the
Council cannot take action against houses that are dilapidated and abandoned by the owners?
This is the question many residents are asking, following complaints of another house in Laudium that has been abandoned for years and is being occupied by nyaopes and vagrants. Residents in the neighbourhood say that the house on Sapphire Street, (near Jewel Str), Laudium, which is adjacent to the PMT Islamic School, is in a filthy condition resulting in rodents and flies breeding in the area and causing a bad smell in the air. Allegations have also been made that the property is being used as a criminal den and that those living there are causing a nuisance, especially at night, when screaming and shouting is heard, with the frequent burning of various materials, which causes black smoke to fill the air. Residents living in the area also claim that despite complaining to the police, the local Council and Cllr Patel, the property remains a problem, causing great distress for those living peacefully in the area.
Dev Chetty, a concerned resident of Sapphire Street, told the Laudium Sun, “I stay near the abandoned house and it is clear that the house is in a very bad condition and has been neglected for many years without any maintenance. I notice that during the night there is constant movement and noise taking place around the property, and it is common knowledge that nyaope users and vagrants have taken over the house. I feel that this situation is becoming very dangerous for all the residents living nearby, because of the bad elements frequenting the place and the illegal activities that are taking place there. I am appealing to the rightful owner of the house to come forward and take responsibility for the property. I strongly believe that the house should either be repaired and made liveable again or be sold, because leaving it abandoned is not good for the residents of this area. I live in this community and I can see how the fear is growing among people, especially at night when there are noises and suspicious movements taking place. It is unacceptable that given the times we are living in, where crime is increasing in Laudium, the authorities are turning a blind eye to this owner vacant and neglected house, which is occupied illegally by drug users and other undesirables. The house also poses a great health risk to all of us living in the neighbourhood because of the filth that is being accumulated on the property, resulting in rats running around, not forgetting the various insects breeding there including flies. I cannot see why the Council does not take action against the property owner and if he or she cannot be found they should approach the court on an urgent basis to have the house demolished and then have the land sold, so that the Council could recover the legal cost of going to court. When I enquired from the Councillor’s office as to why no action was being taken against the owner for the filthy state the house was in, I was told that the Council could not trace the owner. That to me is the most lame excuse I have ever heard. We have rule of law and we have courts to apply the rules. It seems to me that the Council is just not interested in listening and acting on our complaints.”
unacceptable that authorities are turning a blind eye to this abandoned house, which is being illegally occupied by drug users.
Khalid Khan, a resident of the nearby Jet Street, in Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, “I live near the PMT School and I can clearly see that the house adjacent to it has been abandoned for many years. The condition of the property is extremely bad. I notice that the grass on the property is overgrown with it now grown into bushes. I am concerned that unwanted snakes and other dangerous creatures may be hiding in these bushes which creates fear for everyone living nearby, especially children and pedestrians passing by. It is obvious that the house is not maintained and it seems that the property is being used for criminal activities by these vagrants who are often seen hanging around there, especially during the night. It seems that criminals are using the abandoned house as a hiding place for the items stolen by them. This situation is very worrying for all of the residents living in the area, because we suspect that these very same criminals living in the abandoned house are watching our homes from there. I strongly believe that the rightful owner of the house must come forward and take responsibility for the property, by immediately having it cleaned, maintained, and secured properly so that it does not continue to pose a danger to the surrounding community. Alternatively, the owner or his nominee should face the full might of the law as this kind of situation cannot be tolerated, especially as the house is situated right next to a school, posing a danger even to the kids passing there each day.”
Raza Mohammed another resident of Jet Street, told the Laudium Sun, “this abandoned house near us has been a problem for some time now. I believe that urgent attention is now needed because the longer the house is left in this condition, the more it may be misused and become a serious safety concern for everyone on Sapphire Street, especially for the children passing there each day to get to the school adjacent to it. It is unacceptable that
as residents we are living in fear each day because of the vagrants and druggies that live there.”