Vacant homes are a playground for criminals
The empty homes became a magnet for vandalism and the doors and windows were broken
Vandalism and theft is rife in Mqendandaba, Loskop because the opportunity exists for criminals to loot and damage. 24 vacant homes have been destroyed and defaced and residents in the area fear that the homes may soon harbour criminals who they will eventually fall victim to.
The vacant homes have a history dating back to 2011. According to Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Estcourt Constituency Chairperson Mthembeni Majola, Imbabazane Local Municipality identified a number of homeless people who were in dire need of a roof over their heads.
“R3 million was spent on the houses, which were constructed from 2011 to 2013. The houses were fully furnished with a fridge, lounge suite, bed and a water tanker,” said Mr Majola. Once the homes were built and the beneficiaries were told to move in, the plan went pear-shaped.
“The people did not want to move from the areas they lived in and relocate to Mqendandaba. They had ties to the places they were living in so the houses stayed vacant,” Mr Majola explained.
Soon the empty homes became a magnet for vandalism and the doors and windows were broken. The brand new furniture also posed as an attraction and it too was soon stolen. A concerned resident who is also a member of the Community Police Forum requested Mr Majola’s help in halting the criminal activity happening at these homes. Residents fear that criminals would soon seek refuge in the vacant homes.
He requests that Imbabazane Municipality secure the vacant homes and improvise a plan to combat the vandalism and theft, which will make the surrounding community feel safer. He has also criticised the municipality for wastefully sending millions of rands on homes that were never used.
“Imbabazane Municipality should have done their homework and they would have realised that people do not want to leave the land they were born on, if they do they are leaving their ancestry behind. “The money should’ve been used in areas where there is a need for housing, like Thembalihle and Cornfields. Development is floating where it is not needed,” he commented.
Imbabazane Local Municipality was given two weeks to respond to these concerns and allegations but no response was received at the time of going to print.
