Abandoned plot attracts rodents and criminals
A resident has to endure numerous rodents, snakes and break-ins as a result of the abandoned property next door to his residence.
WYEBANK resident Mac Padayachee (77) has been suffering the consequences of an abandoned plot next to his property for the past five years. He has continuously appealed for the owner to take responsibility.
Padayachee said he has become increasingly concerned as there is a school less than 200m from the property, and what worries him the most is that there are school children who walk past the plot to and from school.
“I have lived in the area for the past 27 years, and for the last five years, I’ve had to deal with the consequences of this neglected piece of land. I have attempted to contact the owner on numerous occasions, but I always fail to get hold of him.”
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According to Padayachee, the plot has been taken over by overgrown bush, people’s trash and a significant number of discarded alcohol bottles. “I have to deal with large rodents, snakes and other insects coming into my home as a result of the disgusting state next door.”
“The area has seen a significant increase in crime and drug and alcohol abuse,” the resident added. “My family and I can no longer live like this. We deal with intoxicated people who urinate outside our property as well as having to deal with numerous break-ins that caused me to lose expensive machinery such as welding machines and compressors.”
Padayachee has reported this issue to the municipality but was told the corresponding properties are private land – hence, the onus is on the land owners to defend them or surrender them to Council if they find it difficult to maintain and/or protect them.
In response the eThekwini Municipality said, “The municipality, therefore, does not have the power to act in the absence of an official letter, preferably endorsed by the court of law asking for the City to intervene.
The complaints generally reported to the municipality by members of the public with regards to abandoned properties include:
Dirty conditions, overgrown yard, rodents, building in state of disrepair, theft of water and electricity, offensive smell due to urine and human waste deposit, crime in the neighbourhood, sale of alcohol and drugs, the unsightly building and public disturbance. Some derelict buildings are owned by people who live abroad, some are leased or sub-let to a number of tenants, some have been ‘hijacked’ and some are owned by people who are deceased. Therefore, the City cannot apply a blanket approach in dealing with some of these complex cases.”
Padayachee said he is pleading for the property to be cleared and fixed before the situation worsens.
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