BARRY HERTZOG – After last week’s article regarding the conditions at the Barry Hertzog Park shopping complex, another resident came forward to voice her grievances.
Christelle Venter has been residing in Barry Hertzog Park for the past 15 years and visited the shopping centre frequently.
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However, she said she had been avoiding going there for the last past two years, because it was smelly, messy and littered.
“I have also been harassed on numerous occasions by drunk youngsters partying in the parking area. It is with amazement that I see the centre this clean. If I have been informed correctly, the owner of the Shisa Nyama surely knew that the municipality was going to conduct a site visit, and therefore made the necessary arrangements to have the place cleaned beforehand. I can assure you, this place is a dump.”
Mrs Venter is convinced the area was only cleaned for the site visit, because maintenance at the centre was usually bad.
“I see that the black pot where braai porridge is made, which usually stands near the petrol pumps, was removed on the day of the municipality’s visit. Last Sunday I had to visit the filling station and the pot was lying in the middle of the parking area amid scattered pieces of glass and empty liquor bottles.”
She claimed youngsters often gathered in the parking area to consume liquor, party until the early mornings, and urinated in full view of everyone.
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“I have on numerous occasions queried this with the municipality, but it seems that Newcastle has no municipal by-laws. People are allowed to urinate, drink and harass people in public and be noisy any time of day and night.”
She believed owners of communes were solely responsible for the behaviour seen at the centre, despite an alleged policy regulating communal housing drafted by the Newcastle Municipality.
“According to the policy, commune owners need to obtain consent as well as health certificate. It also clearly stipulates that commune dwellers are not to cause any nuisance. Well, to date I can assure you none of the communes comply, and the municipality simply keeps on telling different stories when a complaint is logged with them.”
She claimed these problems had been ongoing for the past two years.
“Not only do these commune dwellers party in the parking area, but they feel they have the right to do as they please, and if you don’t play their game, then you are at fault.”
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She alleged people were no longer interested in purchasing property in Barry Hertzog Park, because of the dire conditions there.
“We as law abiding property owners are now going to lose the houses we have worked so hard for, due to unlawful behaviour which is simply allowed by our municipality as no by-laws exist. Even the police are no longer arresting people for urinating and drinking in public as there are no by-laws,” she concluded.
After the municipality’s assurance that the centre would be regularly cleaned, the Newcastle Advertiser contacted the municipality regarding the concerns of the residents. The municipality confirmed that a meeting would be set up shortly, to discuss ways to eliminate the problems in Barry Hertzog Park.
