Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart has urged residents to stay vigilant and alert their local councillors of any suspected abandoned properties in their neighbourhoods to prevent properties from being hijacked and stripped of valuables and to preserve the aesthetic and safety of Edenvale’s suburbs.
“It is concerning when residents and property owners stop looking after their properties and pavements. It’s a danger in winter, especially if there is overgrown vegetation and someone decides to set it alight,” said Hart.
Hart said councillors often try to contact the property owner or a relative before the houses are stripped.
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“If a property is left abandoned for too long, criminal elements identify it and strip almost everything from the property. They just leave the skeleton of the building behind,” said Hart.
She said that, in some instances, thieves also stole door window frames and that stripping houses was a problem in Edenvale.
“With a few exceptions, most of the properties have been deceased estates, and the beneficiaries have not been local.
Hart said that often in these circumstances, there are problems financing clearance certificates to get the property into the beneficiary’s name and finalising the sale of the estate, which can take between a year and several years.
“If the property hasn’t been transferred into your name and you haven’t taken occupation, and the property is left vacant, it gets stripped,” said Hart.
“It’s concerning for neighbours who hear the ongoing stripping, the banging, and they see the valuables stolen. Law enforcement won’t do anything, and the community is left at the mercy of those stripping the properties,” said Hart.
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She urged community members to contact their ward councillors and report any abandoned properties.
Additionally, they should advise local security companies to arrange more patrols in the area.
• Hart on Heather.Hart@ekurhuleni.gov.za
• Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle on Bill.Rundle@ekurhuleni.gov.za;
• Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys on Jill.Humphreys@ekurhuleni.gov.za
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