Vacant land a cause for concern

VACANT, overgrown and home to multiple cases of theft, a thoroughfare stretching between Piet Retief Road and Weightman Avenue in Empangeni remains a dangerous obstacle for daily commuters.

Once a well maintained and neat piece of land used as a garden for prisoners, it now remains an unsafe plot owned by the Department of Correctional Services with no future development in sight.

Following a number of reported incidents last year, including a rape attempt, nothing has been done to clear the land and community members are now making a call for action.

Empangeni stalwart, Ian Howell said that people commuting down the path adjacent to the land are often being attacked and robbed.

‘Lights work intermittently and the municipality has on request only come out once to cut the overgrown grass.’

‘The land is now being used for cattle to graze.’

Development

Despite little action from the Department of Correctional Services, local resident Pastor Phiway Sibiya has big plans and has sent in an application to purchase the land.

With the eastern side being kept for possible further development by the department, Pastor Sibiya has high hopes to build an events centre on the western side.

‘This has been a dream of mine since the ‘90s,’ said Sibiya.

‘If all goes well and the application is approved, I hope to build a beautiful centre where community members can host weddings, functions, team building activities and more.’

Eager to get started, Sibiya first submitted the application in January 2015 and after going from pillar to post, it has only now been processed.

‘This is what the town needs and this land is perfect to accommodate everything I have planned.’

Still waiting for a response, Sibiya is positive about the result and hopes to get started as soon as possible.

The development will not only create employment, but eradicate crime which has been the community’s greatest concern.