RESIDENTS of Glenashley’s Ypsilanti Drive are calling for immediate intervention from the eThekwini Municipality over a long-abandoned property which continues to deteriorate, attracting criminal activity and becoming a major eyesore in the community.

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The building, which was partially demolished in 2014 and left unfinished, has been a source of frustration for residents, who say their complaints have gone unanswered.

According to long-time resident Ray Hunt, potential buyers have expressed interest in purchasing the property over the years, but the owner has failed to take any action.

“At one stage, homeless people have been living in there. There was also an incident where a criminal used the property to hide stolen goods,” Hunt said.

“Copper has also been stolen from the property and my security beams are often set off. This building is deteriorating daily and it’s shocking that the municipality turns a blind eye. It’s been 14 years and nothing has been done. It is negatively affecting the value of our properties,” he said.

With security concerns mounting and frustration growing, another property owner in the area, Mervyn Ewels, is urging the city to take immediate action.

“What’s been happening recently is that homeless people are stealing municipal water from the property. I have reported it to the City but nobody has even come out to look. The building is an eyesore. I am trying to sell my home now but potential buyers are skeptical about buying because of this monstrosity across the road,” he said.

According to eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana, building inspectors have been monitoring the property since February 2019, with the latest inspection recorded on November 26, 2024. However, the municipality has yet to exhaust all necessary legal processes before declaring the site a “problem building”.

“Contravention notices were served for slow progress in terms of the National Building Regulations, but the owner has not responded. A new notice has been issued, set to expire at the end of April 2025. If there is still no action, the municipality will proceed with enforcing the Problem Building By-laws,” said Sisilana.

Once the final notices expire, the Problem Building Division will take further action, potentially conducting remedial work or taking legal steps against the owner.

Despite these assurances, the area’s ward councillor Bradley Singh has criticised the municipality’s Land Use Task Team, saying they have done little to address the issue. He is calling for swift action against the property owner.

“This building has been standing in this state for 14 years. The city needs to take ownership of the problem and enforce the necessary by-laws before the situation worsens. It’s a security hazard and an eyesore for the Glenashley area, especially the residents who live close by. The process has dragged on for too long, allowing the property to fall further into disrepair,” Singh said.

Comment could not be obtained from the owner at the time of publishing.

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