Neglected houses still sticky point in the Moot
“Going to bed in fear has become routine.”
Neglected properties in Jan Niemand Park still remain a thorn in the side of the neighbours.
A family that was forced to live on a property in Sprinkaanvoël Street because they could not afford rental for anything better, finally moved out with the help of an estate agent.
The agent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he met the family in February while making cold calls in the neighbourhood to find owners who wanted to sell.
“I had seen the house as I passed by but I never realised what was going on there until I visited,” he said.
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Albert van Tonder said his family rented the dilapidated house on the estate, which also housed about 18 shacks.
He said since moving into the house two years ago he has had many arguments with the shack residents.
Van Tonder said his family had no option but to move into the house because he could not afford to live elsewhere.
The owner of the another property, in 67 Tortelduif Street, left it unattended for two years and it has since been filled by vagrants.
Resident Elsie Kidson said the vagrants had tried to break into her home on numerous occasions since March, when Rekord first reported the story.
“The issue has worsened. The property looks filthy and there are more bullet holes in the window,” said Elsie.
“We feel hopeless. It feels no one wants to help our situation. Going to bed in fear has become routine.”
She said almost every house on the street had been broken into since the vagrants made the house their home.
Elsie said the vagrants lived in the field that borders Angelo Street, Suikerbekkie Street and Stormvoël Road before invading the house.
She said in the last 10 months the field had become a dumpsite.
“During the day the vagrants spend their time on the field and usually come back to the property around 17:00.”
“They gain access to the property by climbing over the gate and using a side entrance to the house.”
But in a twist, after the Rekord’s story in March, Elsie’s husband, Hendrik, came forward to claim she had also illegally invaded the house she was living in.
Elsie refuted the claim, saying her mother inherited the house.
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Hendrik claimed Elsie invaded the house two years ago after learning the owner had died.
Elsie’s mother, Hyla Smit, said she had given her daughter permission to live there.
“My husband, who died two year’s ago, was the owner,” said Hyla, adding the transfer into her name was dragging.
“It can take up to two years to carry a property over to another person’s name.”
Elsie and Hendrik are going through a divorce.
Another concerned resident, Magda Smit, said she no longer felt safe in her own home.
“We are too afraid to go to bed as we are not sure if we will be robbed during the night,” said Magda.
Resident Gideon Smit said he also felt unsafe.
“When I leave for work, I can see the vagrants looming in and around the property,” he said.
“I usually try to get in my car and drive away as quickly as possible.”
Another resident, Yonela Mboni, said he had heard gunshots from the house.
“When I have to walk past the house, I just close my eyes and walk quickly and hope nothing happens,” said Mboni.
The Tshwane metro could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
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