Residents living in a section of Third Street in Fochville are complaining that an abandoned house is causing a major headache in their otherwise neat street.

According to a concerned neighbour, the house at 39 Third Street was abandoned after the previous owner passed away last year. Because his children live overseas, it remains unclear who currently owns the property.

It has, however, become a huge problem for the neighbourhood. After responding to complaints, police previously discovered six illegal occupants living in structures at the back of the house. The house itself is also in a dilapidated state, and those who have been inside report that the stench is unbearable due to contamination from human and animal waste.

Local animal welfare was also involved recently when the Carletonville SPCA was called to the premises. They discovered a sick and malnourished dog that was in such a terrible condition it had to be put to sleep.

Neighbours further complain that the occupants, some of whom are allegedly drug users, regularly jump into adjacent yards and harass residents.

When the Herald visited the house on Monday, the yard was overgrown, and several windows were broken. Graffiti had been spray-painted onto some of the windows and interior walls. The house remains in a severely rundown state with an unbearable smell, and someone, presumably the occupants, was seen collecting water from a pipe emerging from the ground in the front garden.

Anxious residents are now questioning whether the local municipality can intervene, as the current conditions at the house clearly breach municipal by-laws.

The Herald raised these concerns with the Merafong municipality on Monday.

“The by-laws section is working hard to intensify measures against these people, and the complaint will be attended to soon to address the identified matter,” said the municipality’s marketing and communication manager, Temba Fezani.