Peoples Post Woodstock-Maitland Edition 05-04-2011

WO O DS TOCK/M A I TL A N D

“ Te l lin g it a s it i s” E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za

Tuesday 5 April 2011

DUMPED: This building has allegedly been used for dumping and illegal activi ties. Photos: Tauriq Hassen

Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481

NO RESPECT: A bath tub was dumped over the wall.

NO DUMPING SITE: Most of the dirt found at the building seemed to be domestic waste.

Building gets up residents’ noses TAURIQ HASSEN

R

ESIDENTS are becoming increasingly frustrated with constant dumping, illegal occupation and drug abuse at a rundown, polluted plot in Woodstock. The privately-owned plot, which houses a derelict, broken-down brick structure in Cavendish Street, is near the Woodstock Police Station, and has been the site of “image threatening problems”. Abdurauf Abrahams, a resident who is coordinating many of the concerns from residents, was disturbed that problems of this nature were being experienced on a plot right next to the police station. “This is a major problem to us residents, because this place looks and smells bad, and it is really threatening our community’s image,” says Abrahams. Rashaad Joseph, another resident who passes the site regularly,

says “the problems are clearly becoming worse”. Apart from the dumping, vagrants use the easily-accessible plot as “their personal toilet”. “It’s disgusting and unhygienic, but we do understand that they don’t have anywhere else to go. But why here, where there are several houses surrounding the property?” says Joseph. Residents around the area have now embarked on a mission to solve the problem, by drafting a petition and sending this to the City. Abrahams says the petition called on the City to firstly clean up the property, as well as trace the owner of the property, who is apparently based in Johannesburg. “We had various discussions about this plot, but nothing ever is done about the problem and it keeps on getting worse,” says Abrahams. Another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, also often sees “suspicious characters” inside the plot.

She believes drugs are being sold from the plot, “which is the first place police will not check”. “It’s right next to the police station, so they are under the impression that police won’t go there,” says the resident. People’s Post visited the site to evaluate the problem. Human faeces could be seen, along with baby nappies, empty bottles, broken furniture, cereal boxes and other domestic waste. “I won’t say it’s members of this community, because I don’t know that for sure, but if you look at the dirt being dumped there, you can see it comes from a household,” says Joseph. Ward Councillor Cedric Thomas explained that several site inspections were carried out by council. “We have visited that house in the past and found that there were some problems which were addressed, but it seems like it returns every time,” says Thomas. The City has previously made

contact with the owner of the property, which resulted in a clean-up. Teun Baartman, chairperson for the Woodstock Community Police Forum, says it has been proposed that the property be leased out as a parking lot for the Woodstock Police Station. However nothing had been confirmed. “We have been busy on that site for a long time and the closest we have come was getting the site cleaned up last year.” Dr Ivan Bromfield, the City’s executive director of health, confirmed that the last inspection was carried out on 10 March. “The inspection was to determine if the notice served by City Health was complied with,” says Bromfield. The outcome of the inspection revealed that vacant plots of this nature “tend to have re-occurring problems with illegal dumping”. A notice was served on the owner on 4 January, with an expiry date of 18 January. The complaint prior

to that had been received by the City on 22 December. According to the City, the owner of the land resides in Johannesburg, and placed her son in charge of maintaining the plot. “City Health inspects sites of this nature when complaints are received and ongoing inspections will occur until the refuse is removed,” Bromfield says. City Health is currently sourcing quotations for the property to be cleaned. “The cost of the cleaning will be billed back to the owner, and the owner will be summoned to court for failure to comply with a notice,” Bromfield says. The owner’s fate will be decided by the court, which usually issues a fine, says Bromfield.

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