Residents of Kokosi Ext 6 are angry that empty low-cost houses are being taken over by criminals and drug users.

Community activist Lerato Gumede and residents recently showed the Herald several abandoned properties causing trouble in the area.

One empty house near Ext 99 is in a terrible state because homeless people and alleged drug users are living inside it.

Gumede said that nobody knows where the real owner is or why the house was abandoned.

She added that many people would gladly look after the property if they were given the chance to live there.

“It is so expensive to rent. If I could get this house, I would fix it up,” a passerby who wished to remain anonymous remarked.

Neighbours living near house number 2017 are complaining that unsavoury characters have moved in, even though the house was previously damaged by fire.

Meanwhile, residents near house number 6273 say drug users and other criminals are using the property as a base to target innocent people.

Local community members also reported that a man was hanged inside this particular house.

When the Herald raised these issues with Temba Fezani, the marketing and communication manager for the Merafong City Local Municipality, he explained that both house number 2017 in Kokosi Ext 3 and house number 6273 in Kokosi Ext 6 have already been allocated to beneficiaries.

“These owners are responsible for making sure their properties are not used by criminals and drug users.
“The Municipality cannot remove a private owner from his or her house,” he answered.