Residents say an unfinished petrol station redevelopment in Queenswood has become a safety hazard, a dumping ground and an eyesore.

Despite repeated complaints to the metro, they claim no effective enforcement has followed, leaving no safe place for children to play.

Frustration is mounting over what residents describe as a deteriorating and potentially dangerous property at the corner of Cragg and Lawrance streets.

A resident who approached Rekord said the matter has become a ‘serious and ongoing issue’ affecting families living in the surrounding flats and homes.
The resident asked to remain anonymous.

The property was sold to a new owner who began work on the site in 2024 but has yet to complete the project.

According to the resident, the previous filling station was dismantled and work commenced, but construction activity stalled.

During that process, soil and construction debris were allegedly dumped on the municipal open space directly behind the property.

“No progress has been made,” the resident said. “The site is overgrown, filled with building rubble, not properly fenced in, and occupied by homeless individuals who regularly construct makeshift shelters. Although the police have intervened on occasion, the situation persists.”

On inspecting the property, Rekord found long grass and broken fencing around the premises.

The resident said repeated emails and phone calls to the metro have yielded no meaningful results.

“Despite multiple emails and calls to the metro, no effective action has been taken. I am aware that illegal dumping carries a fine of R20 000, yet no enforcement appears to have occurred.”

Beyond the visual impact, residents argue that the condition of the property presents genuine safety risks.

The site is unfenced in places, with easy access from the street and neighbouring properties. Sidewalks around the corner are severely overgrown.

“This poses significant safety concerns for residents, denies children their rights, particularly those living in nearby apartments, of a safe play area, and negatively affects surrounding property values,” the resident said.

“We want to highlight this matter to help place pressure on the responsible authorities to act. And specifically to remove the building debris dumped on the open space, secure the building site with proper fencing, restore the open space, and ensure compliance with municipal regulations.”

The property owner, Naeem Patel, responded to Rekord’s request for comment, stating that the site was acquired for redevelopment purposes and that the previous filling station had been decommissioned in 2024.

He said the intention is to revitalise the site in line with applicable zoning and municipal processes.

Patel said no structural demolition of buildings was undertaken. Works performed, he explained, involved the removal of existing surface concrete in preparation for reinstatement as part of the revamp.

Where regulatory engagement is required, he said: “The project team liaises with the relevant authorities.”

Addressing concerns that demolition work was left incomplete, Patel said: “That demolition was not left incomplete. The project experienced programme adjustments while scope and sequencing were reviewed, and works are being aligned to resume in a structured manner.”

On allegations of dumping, Patel said there was no intentional disposal of waste material on the municipal open space.

He explained that “certain soil stockpiles were temporarily placed near the boundary during construction sequencing, with the intention of reuse”.

Arrangements are being made, he said, to remove the material and restore the affected area.

Regarding security, Patel maintained that the property has been secured since closure.

However, according to him, due to the extended pause in activity, certain temporary fencing deteriorated.

“Reinforcement and improvement of perimeter security measures are underway,” he said, adding that the site is monitored by 24-hour CCTV.

He emphasised that safety remains a priority and that additional interim barricading and protective measures are being implemented to mitigate potential risks to members of the public.

Patel further stated that to date, no compliance notices or fines have been issued by the metro relating to demolition or dumping.

With works resuming, he said there will be a daily site presence, reinforced fencing and controlled access to prevent unauthorised entry.

Acknowledging community concerns about the condition of the property, Patel said: “A structured 30-day stabilisation plan will be initiated, focusing on site clean-up, fencing reinforcement and programme alignment. Thereafter, a revised completion timeline will be communicated once final scope alignment is confirmed.”

He indicated that he remains open to meeting with residents or their representatives to outline the development plan and address concerns constructively.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said that according to the city’s records at the Building Control Unit, there is no approved demolition application for the property in Queenswood.

Mashigo stated that the city does not authorise dumping of soil, construction rubble or any building material on open spaces, public land or road reserves.

“Residents undertaking construction, renovation or demolition projects are encouraged to arrange lawful disposal through the city’s Bulk Waste Services,” he said.

He said the reported dumping will be investigated, and any confirmed infringement will be addressed in terms of the Waste Management By-law and applicable legislation.

On the possibility of fines of up to R20 000 for illegal dumping, Mashigo said the city will first verify the reported allegations. Should a contravention be confirmed, the appropriate compliance notice and enforcement action will be issued in line with the applicable by-law and regulations.

He added that compliance on demolition-related matters involves the metro’s Building Control, Water and Sanitation and the Energy and Electricity Business Units.

In this instance, Mashigo said, the demolition appears to have been undertaken by the property owner without the required municipal authorisation in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.

As no building or demolition application was approved by the metro for the property in Queenswood, the site does not form part of an authorised municipal construction process, Mashigo explained.

The affected open space will be addressed through the city’s illegal-dumping clearance programme to remove rubble and restore the area, he added.

The metro is not aware of any formal safety or environmental assessment having been conducted at the site to date.

Mashigo said the property will be incorporated into the scheduled illegal-dumping clean-up programme for the area, through which clearing and site restoration will be undertaken.

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