Update on dilapidated Public Works properties

Three houses belonging to the Department of Public Works in Frederick Cooper Drive remained in a state of total neglect and an eyesore to the community since the NEWS visited these premises a year ago.

Annette Fourie, Democratic Alliance Ward Councillor has been communicating with the Department and says that questions to Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Public Works were asked in Parliament.

The minister replied that the houses were under the administration of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and that they were responsible for the upkeep of these properties, says Fourie.

“The Minister said that both the SAPS and National Department of Public Works were responsible for the maintenance of their respective properties, and he admitted that the Department of Public Works was aware of the condition of these properties.”

She comments that it is ironic that for so many years nobody did anything to maintain these properties .

“After many enquiries I managed to made contact with a Colonel Van der Merwe, who has to oversee the cleaning and repairs on the premises.”

Fourie says that according to Van der Merwe, the extent of the structural damages to some of the properties is such that a structural engineer will be appointed to determine the way forward.

“The vacant houses and an open stand have not been cleaned properly and remain a fire, security and health risk. People still are vandalising the properties.”

She says that the police and the Community Police Forum (CPF) patrollers had been called out to these properties on several occasions to ensure that vandals and criminals did not hide there.

“The bottom line is that the National Department of Public Works seems incapable of administering properties belonging to National Government,” Fourie concludes.