Time council took control

Umgeni Park residents have complained for five years about derelict house – but to no avail

DISGRUNTLED residents of Umgeni Park have criticised the municipality for not dealing with “problem buildings” in the area, including a partly-demolished home that has been taken over by vagrants and prostitutes.

For five years, residents of Kiaat Place have pleaded with ethekwini Municipality to deal with the house, which they believe is a major source of crime.

They say the city is failing to enforce relevant by-laws.

The city passed the Problem Building By-law in 2015 to hold property owners accountable for abandoned and derelict structures across the city.

When a building becomes a problem, the by-law requires the municipality to serve a written notice giving the owner a time-frame to fix or demolish the building. Once the legal processes have been followed, the city can demolish buildings at the expense of the owner.

Last year, Tozi Mthethwa, city spokesperson, promised that a multi-disciplinary operational team of metro police officers, water and sanitation and urban management representatives would conduct widespread operations to address problem buildings in the city, including Kiaat Place.

One resident questioned whether the owner of the home at 10 Kiaat Place had even been served with a demolition notice.

“I just cannot get a response from any department to where we are with this. I am desperate, and I don’t know who to contact anymore. We need this house to be demolished,” said Stuart Harris.

“We could never sell our properties with this eyesore next door.

“My house and other houses around this property get robbed on a regular basis, from clothes on washing lines to alcohol in the fridges,” said Harris, adding that local homeowners had spent a fortune on security and electric fencing just to protect their properties and families.

In 2014, Captain Basil Naidoo was shot dead in a complex behind 10 Kiaat Place after responding to a house robbery.

At the time, a senior officer remarked the house should be demolished, “but it still stands”, said Harris.

David Ritch questioned whether the new legislation was effective enough to deal with errant property owners.

“We got as far as the health department getting the owner to cut the grass, but after that nothing further was done.

“What I don’t understand is how the owner got away with this for so many years. He must be protected in some way as legal notices have been served on him but not followed through,” said Ritch.

Mthethwa said the property owner had been served with contravention notices.

“Our enforcement division is looking into the matter.

“The city appeals to property owners to ensure that their properties are well maintained as derelict buildings impact negatively on the surrounding neighbourhood.

“Residents can also report any illegal activity to the South African Police Service and metro police,” she said.