Could Avondale ruins cost DA ward 21?

Avondale residents have threatened to change their vote in the upcoming municipal elections if the Democratic Alliance does not step in to have the Avondale ruins demolished.

Avondale, Ballito is in a DA ward where residents feel the axed ward councillor, Colin Marsh and DA have failed to serve the community that voted for them. They expected the DA to put pressure on the KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) to make the owner of the house, Themba Ndlovi, demolish the structure on the corner of Avondale Road and Joshua Close as ordered by the High Court and the KDM town planning appeals board in 2006.

However, ten years later, the walls are still standing and the floor is covered in a velvety moss carpet.

On March 2, 2006 the KDM town planning appeals board ruled that the owner of the house, Themba Ndlovu had to demolish the half-built house that he was ordered to cease construction on after it became apparent that KDM erroneously approved his building plans (‘Municipality ducks issue of Avondale ruins, ‘The North Coast Courier, February 6, 2015).

The house was built too close to the property’s boundary lines and saga started when Ndlovu’s neighbour, Trevor Abbott, who has since left the country, objected to the construction in 2003 on the grounds that Ndlovu did not apply for special consent from council to relax the building line from seven and a half metres from the road to two metres.

In the 16 months since the last time The North Coast Courier reported on the issue, KDM has failed to flex its muscles on the issue and Avondale Residents’ Forum chairman, Riaan Verster has resorted to drawing up an online public petition and taking aim at the DA.

Verster said the property has caused many problems for the area’s residents and it had to be demolished immediately.

“Many of you may have heard of the recent spike in break-ins in this area and it is believed that this derelict house may be directly linked to some or most of this criminal activity,” said Verster on a website he created to raise awareness of the problem (www.avondaleruinsmustfall.simplesite.com).

He also claimed the house was inhabited by vagrants and posed a health risk to neighbours.

By Monday night, 64 people had signed Verster’s petition and 20 comments had been left.

“I live near this piece of land and have seen vagrants living in parts of the building and I am concerned for my safety. Something needs to be done to demolish it,” said Keely Jackson.

Another neighbour Martin Bernardu said he has had three break-ins in the last two years.

Repeated efforts to contact KDM for comment have been fruitless.

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