A FEW years ago, a house on Minerva Grove in Glenwood stood solid and presented a proper family structure until the owner resorted to selling it. Fast forward to 2023, and demolition took place in different stages. This, according to neighbours, opened the floodgates for the homeless, foot traffic, as well as sex workers.

Due to incomplete demolition, occupiers of the dwelling constructed makeshift shelters. Last week, the dwelling caught fire, endangering neighbouring blocks of flats and residents. What concerns the neighbours is that recently there have been signs of construction.

“The property is a safety threat. Not so long ago, we had a robbery in our block of flats, and several tenants reported their items missing. In addition to that, our concrete fence is at risk of collapse due to stacks of bricks laid against it after demolition,” said one of the residents.
“We were initially told that the building would be a student accommodation, which we objected to. We already have one in the vicinity, and an additional one would be chaos. At this point, we are not sure of what is being built; some say it’s a boarding house.”

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Local councillor Fran Kristopher indicated that this property was highlighted as a Problem Property. “We had conducted an operation in April where we discovered a partially demolished building and an informal dwelling; we also found illegal electricity connections and two silo storage containers.
“The owner was issued with warnings and contraventions. Regarding the recent fire, the Fire Department stated that the fire was due to an electrical issue,” she said.

She added that the Town Planning department indicated that there was no prior notice or special consent submitted for the student residence, and the only plans they had on record were for flats and lodging and not a student residence.

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The Glenwood Bulwer Ratepayers and Residents Association (GBRRA) noted, “The recent fire at the informal settlement on Minerva Grove and the subsequent rebuilding of the structures – it is unacceptable that such reconstruction is allowed to continue unchecked by municipal authorities. This reflects a broader and ongoing lack of oversight and proactive intervention by the relevant departments.

“Informal settlements in unsuitable and unsafe areas not only compromise infrastructure and service delivery but also place lives at risk. Residents must also understand the urgency of these developments. The full impact of unchecked growth and inadequate planning will only become apparent in two or three years, by which time it may be too late to make meaningful changes.”
GBRRA urged the community to be more engaged and vocal in demanding accountability from the municipality before it is too late.

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