GALLERY: Bethal Station Hall, once a landmark, is now a crime and health concern
Homeless people live in squalor inside the once beautiful and popular Bethal Station Hall.
Divided opinions surround the future of the vandalised Bethal Station Hall in Station Road that has become a ruined shell occupied by the homeless.
It was once a popular venue for weddings, birthdays and community celebrations. The building stands in ruins with shattered windows, missing doors, broken toilets and piles of rubbish.
Rodents, pests and an overwhelming stench have replaced the memories many local residents still associate with the historic venue.
Sheets hang where doors once stood, providing privacy and shelter from the cold for the people now living inside.
With no running water, occupants say they collect water in buckets from a nearby church, while buckets also serve as makeshift toilets.
Townspeople who spoke to the Ridge Times asked not to be named. Some believe the building could be restored and converted into a homeless shelter through partnerships between businesses and the community.
Others argue it should be demolished, saying it has become a hotspot for prostitution, substance abuse, violence, noise and crime.
“These are people with socio-economic issues. It is sad. They have nowhere to go. There are no local shelters. The nearest one is in Standerton,” said one resident.
Living in squalor
Inside the hall’s former entrance, a mother, her daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend have been living since April 2025.
“Police tell us we must get out, but where do we go?” said the daughter.
She explained that they cook over open fires and fetch water from the nearby church. She also described life inside the abandoned building as dangerous, saying she has previously been attacked by other occupants.
In an adjacent building, two women and a man have also made the abandoned property their home.
One woman, who has lived there for more than two years, said she was forced to leave her mother’s home because of personal circumstances.
“I have three children in foster care. Because they still live around here, I don’t want to go to another town,” she said.
She survives by begging outside local shops and said hunger often drives people towards drug use.
“There is not always food. When you don’t have food, doing drugs lessens the hunger,” she said.
The woman admitted that she and some occupants resort to prostitution to survive. “Some of us prostitute ourselves because we have nothing. We don’t receive government support and seldom get handouts from people,” she said.
Despite her circumstances, she uses her sewing skills to make blankets for other homeless residents. Others earn small amounts of money through car guarding.
Without electricity, candles provide their only source of light.
“We have to get things done before nightfall. Once it’s dark, you can’t see anything,” she said.
Residents demand action
The future of the Bethal Station Hall remains uncertain, but residents agree that the current state of the property can no longer be ignored.
For neighbouring residents, sympathy is mixed with growing frustration.
They say crime, drug abuse, fighting and prostitution have increased since the hall was abandoned.
“It angers us. This has become a crime hotspot,” said another concerned resident.
The resident recalled how Sasol renovated the property years ago, installing palisade fencing and restoring the hall while it was still a functioning community facility.
“Not long afterwards, the palisades were stolen, people carried the wood away, and the building was completely vandalised,” she said.
The Ridge Times previously reported on vandalism at the station hall in 2019. Another resident questioned whether converting the hall into a shelter would be sustainable.
“Who is going to look after them, feed them and run the facility every day? Funding won’t just fall from the sky. Demolish the building. It’s a crime hotspot and a health hazard” said the resident.
A recurring problem
Bethal CPF member Jaap Pretorius said authorities face an ongoing challenge.
“Between the CPF, police and law enforcement, only so much can be done. You can chase them away now, but they just keep coming back again,” said Pretorius.
Govan Mbeki Municipality has noted concerns
The municipality confirms that the old Bethal Station Hall is a municipal facility and was previously made available for hire for weddings, sporting activities and other community functions.
“The municipality has conducted a security risk assessment of the facility. We’ve submitted the assessment to the relevant municipal departments for their review and consideration of the necessary interventions,” said Donald Green, GMM spokesperson.
He said the municipality will also request the intervention of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) team in Bethal to help with cleaning the hall and its surroundings following concerns about accumulated rubbish and other unhygienic conditions.
“Regarding allegations of prostitution, drug-related activities and other criminal activities in the vicinity of the hall, the municipality’s By-Law Enforcement Unit continues to work with the police and other relevant stakeholders in enforcing municipal by-laws and addressing matters of public safety throughout the GMM area,” said Green.
He said any decision about the restoration, reopening, redevelopment or possible repurposing of the old Bethal Station Hall will require consideration by the relevant municipal departments and will be subject to the availability of budget.
“The municipality may also explore opportunities for partnerships with businesses operating within the GMM area that may be willing to contribute towards the restoration or redevelopment of the facility through corporate social investment initiatives,” concluded Green.
