Abandoned Transnet houses anger residents

TWO abandoned properties in Hillary have angered residents of Dowland Avenue who have been pleading with the municipality to clear up the unsightly and health hazardous houses.

Residents raised complaints last year, saying the unkempt houses could be the reason for a recent house breakings.

According to ward councillor Samantha Windvogel, the abandoned houses had been an issue for more than three years.

“We have tried all avenues to have this issue sorted, but the owners are not interested. I think the municipality should intervene on this matter because people pay rates to the city, there must be another way of addressing this matter.

“Residents are complaining about overgrown grass and trees which also attract snakes and rats. We have seen drug users also using the houses as a den and no one is willing to intervene,” said Windvogel.

Resident Vikesh Jedidiah said the properties were abandoned by Transnet for years and nothing has been done about it.

“I have been engaging with Transnet but not making any progress. I then escalated this to the ward councillor in our area. It appears she was unsuccessful as well,” he added. The municipality ruling on abandoned private property is that the responsibility rests with the property owners to protect their properties or surrender them to the city, should they find them difficult to maintain.

The city, therefore, does not have the power to act in the absence of an official letter, preferably endorsed by a court of law asking for the city to intervene.

If a property owner wants the grass to be cut by the city, they have to complete the necessary forms and the cost for cutting the grass will be offset against the owner’s rates.

Lionel Jasmin, the city’s building inspector, confirmed that after an investigation and discussions with the Enforcement and Prosecutions branch it was found the properties belonged to Transnet (an organ of state). He said the matter has been dealt with before whereby Transnet had not complied with notices issued.

“I have served notices for both properties, but I was advised by the prosecution branch that due to the owner being an organ of state and as per our framework structure, they are unable to prosecute,” said Jasmin.

City Watch had previously reported on a similar issue implicating Transnet. Residents of Binty Dixon Road in Malvern raised complaints where two Transnet houses were left unoccupied for more than two years.

Transnet did not respond to City Watch questions.