Residents living in dirt and crime haven.

Malvern residents, Ms Ruth Jacobs and Ms Nazeema Abrahams, explained the “pure horror” of living on the corner of King and St Amant streets in Malvern.

The EXPRESS met with both residents who expressed their concerns about the deterioration of the area on Tuesday.

Ms Jacobs, who has been living in the area for more than 11 years, fears being a target at night. She said King Street has become a crime and dirt infested haven.

The women accused Joburg Water of not closing a hole workers had dug after attending to a water leakage.

“Joburg Water attended to the water leakage a month ago but workers left the hole open which is now blocked, flooding the street with unwanted water. The electricity boxes which were closed with wire can be opened by anyone,” said Ms Jacobs.

Other concerns include the informal dumping site that has been created by local businesses and other residents. The concern is that the dumping site is behind Malvern Primary School.

“Our street has become a three-in-one nightmare. There are water leakages, thieves, dumping sites and cable theft that effect our daily lives,” said Ms Jacobs.

She said she used to walk through the field to drop off her children at the primary school, but the pathway is now filled with rubbish including broken windscreens, tiles and building rubble. As a result, people have moved to the open area and are living between the rubble where there is a self-made shack.

“Residents now have to look at people bathing in the open and using the premises as a toilet, which creates a stink,” said Ms Abrahams.

Both women said King Street is often targeted by thieves who steal street light cables.

“These are repaired fairly quickly but it only lasts for two weeks or so, until it is stolen again,” said Ms Jacobs.

“The street lights help us, especially since we go to the shops and return home from church late at night. Walking in the dark with no light is risky for us as women,” said Ms Abrahams.

“The people stealing our cables come when it is load shedding and they are professionals. The theft is completed in less than five minutes. They are equipped with ladders and the appropriate tools to cut the cables,” she said.

Together with the several outstanding issues the residents share, they expressed their gratitude to City Power contractors for their punctual response in repairing the street lights.

However, the women feel the repairs need to be secured in order to eliminate the problem completely.

The Malvern ward councillor, Clr Mike Spadino, said the street in question has always been monitored.

“The only way to tackle these problems is if City Power does an audit on all the concerns. This has already been requested and the problems affect 13 houses in the street. People are desperate to call their streets safe again,” said Clr Spadino.

The EXPRESS contacted City Power on several occasions in an attempt to obtain comment.

A media inquiry was sent on May 20 requesting comment.

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.