Alleged illegal occupants currently residing in a Stellenbosch property belonging to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) will likely be evacuated by August, according to Thami Mchunu, the national spokesperson for the DPWI.
This comes after claims that the property in Mark Street, has been a threat to the safety of residents in the Stellenbosch Central area for over a year. This was according to Democratic Alliance (DA) constituency head for Stellenbosch, Dr Leon Schreiber.
“The current occupants pose a health and safety risk to the neighbours […] they are contravening fire safety by-laws, municipal safety by-laws and building control regulations,” confirmed Mchunu via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
Mchunu also confirmed to MatieMedia that the property has been vandalised with broken windows, and damaged water and electricity connections.
The DPWI intends to appoint a security guard by August 2021 for 24 months or until the DPWI has received investment analysis recommendations, according to Mchunu. “Once security has been appointed, the illegal occupants will be removed,” he added.
The photograph at the top shows the property in Mark Street in Stellenbosch as it appears on a visual on Google Streetview dating back to 2017. The photograph at the bottom was taken by MatieMedia in June 2021. PHOTO: Inge du Plessis
Sergeant Jason Rhoda from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Stellenbosch has confirmed that the illegal occupants of the property have been a ‘nuisance’ to residents in the area and that SAPS has received numerous complaints about them.
SAPS has also conducted raids on the property, said Rhoda in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
“All illegal items, items that cannot be accounted for, or where there is suspicion that it could be stolen, as well as illegal substances are seized and the perpetrators arrested,” Rhoda said, referring to searches and raids at the property.
Illegal occupants
Schreiber said he was made aware of the illegal occupants in early 2020 and questioned the minister of the DPWI, Patricia De Lille, on 20 March 2020 about the “illegally occupied and vandalised property”.
According to a Parliamentary written reply that Schreiber sent to MatieMedia,
De Lille responded to Schreiber stating that “measures were put in place to install security burglar bars and guards on the property to prevent further vandalism”.
“In time I received further complaints from residents about the building being illegally occupied, that noise and crime has become a problem and that this is having a negative effect on the historical value of the area,” stated Screiber via email correspondence with MatieMedia.
WARNING: This voice clip contains language that might be offensive to some readers.
An argument that the illegal occupants had outside the property one night. This was recorded from the building across the street.
The history of the property
The property was previously used as a residential dwelling by SAPS and handed back to the DPWI in July 2014, said Mchunu.
“The property was already vandalised when it was handed back to DPWI, therefore no interest was shown by other departments [to use the property],” claimed Mchunu.
Various items are on display in the yard of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) property in Mark Street. These items include a “Maties”-flag, wheel caps of various car models, and a “Checkers Xtra Savings” poster. Some windows are blocked by cardboard (as seen in the satellite image) and openings on the porch have been closed by shaded nets. PHOTO: Inge du Plessis
During that time, 24-hour security was appointed to secure the property but the services could not be sustained due to insufficient funding, said Mchunu. “Savings have, however, since been identified, so security will be appointed.”
“A number of letting applications were received by the DPWI but due to the pending finalisation of the letting out framework, the letting out of all properties were placed on hold. During this time the property was frequented by vagrants and fully occupied in 2019,” explained Mchunu.
Rhoda said it was important that the DPWI, as owner of the property, do its part to put an end to this situation. “As SAPS we do our part in terms of searches and raids on the property,” said Rhoda.
A bucket in a canal in Mark Street. The alleged illegal occupants apparently collect water from these streams, according to Gerhard Gous, a member of the body corporate at the apartment building across the road from the illegally occupied property. PHOTO: Inge du Plessis