Worst building in Bordeaux to be demolished
BORDEAUX – Vodacom announces demolition of abandoned building, which houses vagrants.
An abandoned, derelict building on the corner of Bordeaux Drive and Darnoc Avenue has become too much for the Bordeaux community to bear. With a layer of rubbish on the floor and the roof caving in, it is home to about 10 vagrants and many rats. Almost every room is a toilet. Vodacom, which owns the plot, announced on 14 November its decision to demolish the building, and construct a data centre on the land.
Vodacom executive head of media relations Richard Boorman said that the company received approval from the City of Johannesburg for the demolition, and it now just needs to appoint a contractor before demolition will begin. Vodacom bought the property in July last year. “Ideally we would have liked to have built the centre immediately, however, a number of approvals were needed,” Boorman explained.
“The safety of the community in the area is of paramount importance… We have deployed a security company to guard the site and will also be building a fence around the property.” One of the security guards, who works for Probe Group Security and would not give his name for his own safety, explained that between seven and 10 vagrants live in the building.
He escorted a Randburg Sun journalist through the double-story building. The floor was covered in plastic, fabric, urine and faeces. Both men had to hold their noses and restrain the urge to leave. “When we ask the guys here to move they promise to moer me or kill me,” the guard said “I am scared of those guys.” Broken and stained mattresses were found metres from a fire-blackened wall. The roof was collapsing in a few places.
Bordeaux North Community Forum chairperson Shanaaz Bailey thinks that it the most run-down building in Bordeaux, and is looking forward to its demolition. “The worst part is the vagrants and the possibility of crime and fire,” said Rosemarie Bennett, a forum committee member. Ward 102 councillor David Potter added that “The building is derelict and in need of urgent attention, I have been putting pressure on Vodacom to secure the building.”
Details: Bordeaux North Community Forum 082 393 2477; Vodacom 082 111; Ward 102 councillor David Potter david@oursuburb.co.za
