The dilemma of unused and unsightly buildings

HAVE we lost our marbles?

On a daily basis one is confronted with total craziness and in-your-face abuse of any form of a meaningful attempt at moving in a positive direction.

The powers that be run from pillar to post like headless chickens – pillars and posts which they create while real concrete structures which could bring life or death simply remain unseen.

I can give you many examples, but choose to be brief.

Ndabeni Circle has an unused face brick “clubhouse” which is seen by many every single day. Why is that building left to stand until it collapses? Surely there must be municipal by-laws which will resolve such a situation.

Other than being an eyesore it is also a danger to anyone seeking a place to sleep at night.

Could such a structure not be converted to a shelter or is this also prime property waiting for someone to make a “killing”.

I wonder who this site belongs to?

Keizergracht and Primrose Street: Here is another dilapidated, filthy and dangerous building right in our faces as we enter Cape Town.

Why when many homes were destroyed in D6?

Let’s move a bit out of Cape Town and take a drive on the

N2, which generally bisects huge stretches of farmland. We all know the plight of the farm workers. Housing facilities is one of the many challenges they face.

For some strange reason, one cannot miss noticing all the many empty houses waiting to be turned into homes. Surely no farmer would build new homes and leave the old to ruin? Where are the farm workers who lived there? Do we really have housing needs on farms?

Fast forward. Kleinbrak Rivier. That disused power station has now converted itself into a green building. This is no small utility services building and one simply cannot miss it with trees as occupants.

Yes, trees are allowed homes and not people. Surely someone could by now do something about it or does no one care? Send in the same bulldozers that flattened D6 or must we save the Port Jacksons.

Do we really have a housing need?