Municipal issues do get resolved
GREENSIDE – After a year, a problematic property was demolished and cleaned.
Not all municipal issues end badly and a property on the border of Emmarentia and Greenside is proof of this as it marks a win, not only for residents but also for Ward 87 councillor, Bridget Steer.
Last year, a resident living close to an abandoned and dilapidated home reached out to Steer to assist with the problem property on Barry Hertzog Avenue.
The complaint dates as far back as May last year about the property being turned into an illegal dump site.
In addition, concerns were raised about people living in the crumbling and rubbish-ridden structure.
Steer referred the matter to various officials in relevant departments in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
After back-and-forth email correspondence, the premises were inspected and a compliance notice was posted to the property owner to comply with an order to clean up the property by mid-November.
The owner did not respond to the notice and the City was forced to step in. After a miscommunication between the City and the resident, the stand was cleaned at the end of January but the building was not demolished.
The resident specifically wanted the building demolished to avoid the human activity and people living in the dilapidated building.
Months later, the property was inspected once again and finally after a little over a year the building was demolished.
While the issue may seem like a small one, it is proof that municipal issues can be resolved.
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