Devil’s dens come under fire

A City by-law makes provision for demolition, but the process still requires permission as the sites are privately owned

CAPE TOWN residents have identified two more “problem buildings” in separate areas of the city.

“The Devil’s Den” in Strandfontein – where the mutilated body of Chad Baron was recently dumped – and the dilapidated Old Lyric Cinema in Bellville South have raised the ire of residents.

Mandy van Willingh, secretary of the Strandfontein Social and Economic Development Forum, said the dilapidated building in Camp Road has become “a nest for crime” over the past five years, and residents were ready to demolish the remaining structure.

“People go there to drink and do drugs. It’s a crime hot spot. Bodies get dumped there and people are getting fed up. We are ready to go smash the walls down,” she said.

City director for Safety and Security Richard Bosman said the dilapidated building was subject to a City investigation.

“This property has been brought to the attention of the City’s Problem Building Unit (PBU), which is in the process of tracing the owner to issue the first notice as this is private property,” Bosman said.

According to him, the Problem Building By-law makes provision for demolition, but demolition still requires the owner’s permission.

Baron, 26, died in hospital after being stabbed 15 times and beaten with a brick during a car hijacking last month.

He was set to leave for Vietnam last month, but his dream to teach English abroad had been dashed by crime.

Three men have since been arrested and charged with his murder.

And last week, a homeless man was rushed to hospital and two others were injured after a wall from the Old Lyric Cinema collapsed on top of them.

Bosman said the building was not listed as a problem building.

“Following receipt of this query, the PBU will investigate, and action will be taken in terms of the Problem Building By-law if necessary.”

Parow resident Larry Dolley said he had witnessed people entering the building and stealing infrastructure materials from inside.

“The cinema has been stripped and eroded in broad daylight over the last few weeks for building material.

“This left an obviously unsafe concrete skeleton waiting for a tragedy which, fortunately, was not as bad as it could have been.

“The owners of the property should be held accountable for this problem building,” Dolley said.

Mayor Patricia de Lille sought to address the problem by requesting that City directorates issue her with a list of all the problem buildings around the city.

She has also requested reports listing the problem buildings in the directorates’ possession and what the buildings are intended to be used for.

De Lille’s spokesperson Zara Nicholson said the mayor was set to address the issue in Council tomorrow.

The PBU is dealing with more than 1 900 buildings and has concluded more than 5 000 related complaints.