Notorious ‘problem house’ in Protea Street being restored by Good Samaritan
Residents in Kanonkop are breathing a sigh of relief as a long-abandoned house in Protea Street , once overrun by vagrants, drug users and fires, is finally being cleaned up, secured, and restored.
A house in Protea Street, Kanonkop, long known as a ‘problem property’ and a thorn in the side of nearby residents, is finally being cleaned up and restored by a Good Samaritan.
For years, neighbours complained that drug addicts and homeless people were living inside the abandoned home, stripping it of anything valuable, including the geyser, bath, toilet and all electrical fittings. Squatters made fires on the floors, adding to the extensive damage.
Despite numerous attempts by residents to trace and contact the owner, no progress was made.
That prompted local resident Steve Hart, who lives near the property, to take matters into his own hands. He assembled a team of young homeless men, individuals he is helping to get back on their feet, and together they cleared the interior of the house.
Hart said they are now tackling the outside.“We are cutting away the bushes. It would also help if someone could bring a bushcutter to tackle some of the big bushes at the back of the house.”
Another big problem is the heaps of building rubble and other debris that someone dumped in the yard. “It looks like a truckload was pushed in here and just left,” he said.
He says a major helping hand would be if someone can provide a large skip (skippy) so the rubble can be removed.
Although the interior has been cleaned, the house still bears the scars of neglect.“The windows are still broken and will need to be repaired, but we are restoring the house bit by bit,” Hart said.
To protect the property and ensure it does not become a shelter for crime or drugs again, Hart has placed security guards inside the house.“I’m going to make sure it stays clean and tidy until the owner takes over again,” he added.
Hart invited the owner to make contact with him on 082 364 4081.
• A few months ago, the Observer entered the house one night after the grass had been set alight and the fire brigade, along with emergency groups, went to put it out to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties. We went inside the house with one of the security groups and were shocked at how it looked. The smell was unbearable, as one room’s floor had been used as a toilet, and there were no baths or toilets left in the house. Traces of drugs were everywhere, and heaps of burned rubble were scattered across the rooms.
