WATCH: Angry tenant vandalises rented office
The owner believes that the guilty person deserves a second chance.
A former Van Riebeeck Park tenant vandalised his rented office space, after not receiving his deposit when his contract ended.
Gauteng Management Agents, from whom he was renting, decided to drop the charges against him, as they believe in second chances.
CCTV footage showed that the former tenant, together with two other men, arrived at the office at around 6.11pm on Thursday evening. They left at 6.35pm, but the damage was done.
Together, they spray-painted the walls, windows and tiles with red and black paint. They also urinated on the floor and threw an oil-based substance against the wall.
The vandalised space was being shown to prospective tenants on Friday morning when the damage was noticed.
According to managing director Casper du Plessis, the business never had problems with the tenant before.
“He always paid his rent on time. This was totally out of the blue.”
The tenant, whom Du Plessis would not like to be named, said the space would be used for a group of chartered accountants.
Du Plessis opened a case of vandalism against the suspect at Norkem Park SAPS. Two police officers were already on the scene when the man arrived to apologise.
“I was extremely angry and irrational, and I am truly sorry,” he said. “I was angry that I paid two months’ deposit and didn’t get anything back.”
An employee explained that he could not get his deposit back because he did not give two months’ notice that he would not renew his contract.
He understood and apologised profusely. “All I am asking for, is for a chance to fix it.”
Du Plessis agreed to drop the charges on the condition that the man pays for the repairs, which he since did.
“I believe in second chances and I don’t want to tarnish your name,” he said.
“Thank you, you are such good people,” the man agreed.
