Demolition planned for vandalised Rosettenville house
Owner gives eight-week timeline as neighbour raises alarm over thefts linked to abandoned property
The owner of the vandalised house in Rosettenville, Brad Kibel, promised to demolish the house in about eight weeks’ time.
This comes after his neighbour, Herbert Strirk, complained to the Comaro Chronicle about ongoing thefts from his property. The house in question has been stripped of all electrical wires, window frames, door frames, metal pipes and the roof by vagrants.
According to Strirk, in just three months, the house has been turned into a shadow of itself. “I have a business in my premises and these thugs have come at least four times, stealing anything from electrical appliances to gas cylinders. They gain access through the derelict house next door.
The owner told me he wants to demolish it and build flats. He needs to do something very soon because I’m suffering because of him,” he said.
Kibel said he knows what to do, although he has lost a lot of money on this property. “I had tenants for about 10 years who lived in my house; however, they weren’t paying rent. They were squatting there and I lost over R180 000 a year with them not paying. They eventually left, leaving the house in ruins.
“Although the area is dodgy, there are good people like Strirk; however, there are also bad people who steal in my yard. I was there recently, and the place is vandalised. I am planning to demolish the house in about eight weeks, and I plan to rebuild a new structure with security,” explained Kibel.
Ward 56 councillor Michael Crichton confirmed that he had had a conversation with Strirk.
“Private properties like this are quite problematic, as the onus of maintaining a private property lies with the relevant owner. Given that this property appears to be abandoned, I will follow up with Group Forensics and Investigation Services, as this must form part of their portfolio of bad properties. Unfortunately, the City can only expropriate a property under certain criteria, such as being severely in arrears on rates.
“I will also be in touch with Environmental Health to see if they can possibly trace the owner/s and instruct them to clean the property. I’ll also alert the Moffat View SAPS of this seemingly being a crime hotspot,” he said.
