Residents of the former Sparrow Village are once again drawing complaints from their neighbours.

One of those neighbours is the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA, whose manager, Mandy Cattanach, said conditions at the former HIV and Aids hospice and children’s home continue to deteriorate as criminal activity and anti-social behaviour become increasingly common.

“We have been forced to install new electric fencing and a new entrance gate, both at astronomical cost that could have been better spent on our day-to-day operations,” said Cattanach.

“Unfortunately, incidents of theft have become so frequent that we have had to implement additional security measures.”

Cattanach said the area around the SPCA has become so unsafe that many members of the public are reluctant to visit the facility.

While most recent incidents have involved opportunistic theft, she said the theft of a fridge from the SPCA’s morgue building last year proved to be the tipping point.

She further alleged that drug deals regularly take place in full view, sex workers solicit clients in Nadine Street, and residents burn rubbish at a growing informal recycling site on the property.

“There are days when one can scarcely breathe,” she said.

Cattanach said the smoke from burning rubbish was so severe while the SPCA’s new entrance gate was being installed last week that contractors were unable to continue working.

“We asked them to stop burning, but we were laughed at. We then tried to extinguish the fire with a hosepipe, but ended up being pelted with cans, bottles and other rubbish by the ‘recyclers’,” she said.

In response, Cattanach approached Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn, who visited the site last week.

“I am aware of the challenges at Sparrow Village. Within minutes of walking around, I witnessed what appeared to be a drug deal,” said Finn.

Finn said Sparrow Ministries, which owned the property, no longer exists.

He added that he had obtained a copy of the original agreement between Sparrow Ministries and the City of Johannesburg governing the use of the property.

“The contract makes provision for the City of Johannesburg to reclaim the property should it no longer be used for its original purpose or if Sparrow Ministries ceased to exist,” he said.

Finn said he would engage with the relevant City departments and other stakeholders to initiate the process.

The Roodepoort Record has since followed up with Finn, who says that he has approached the CoJ, but since this matter would involve multiple departments and likely involve legal action instituted by the city, it is likely to be a lengthy process.

Questions have been posed to the City of Johannesburg, and comment from the City will be added once received.