A house in Goodwood has been labelled an eyesore by neighbours who say overcrowding at the property is causing knock-on problems for them.
Residents of Fisher Street say the house has become a blight on the neighbourhood.
A woman who has lived in the area for more than 20 years claimed people were living in the house’s overcrowded garage and that conditions at the property were to blame for a rat problem in the area.
She did not want her name published, saying she feared reprisals.
“I see that they also work on vehicles in front of the house, and that takes up parking in front of my house, which leads to traffic congestion during peak times,” she said.
Another resident, also wanting to remain unnamed, claimed that when she had last counted, late last year, there had been 27 people living at the single-storey house, although the number had been as high as 30.
“The owner of the property does not seem to be doing anything about the house,” she said.
She complained that the pavement had been stained with motor oil from the various vehicles parked in front of the house.
“I think they fix cars and fridges from the property. Why must we keep the road clean when these people are creating a mess?” she said.
She said she had had to build a wall to create some distance from the property.
“This issue has been going on for close to 13 years. I want all the residents in the road to sign a petition to get rid of these people,” she said.
But Faizel Petersen, chairman of the Goodwood Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, no one had complained to him about the house.
“I do not know about the problem. I have advised the community to log requests directly with ward councillors or to log a C3 call where needed. The complainant must raise this with the problem buildings unit of law enforcement. The complainant should also notify the ward councillor to look at the matter as well,” he said.
Richard Bosman, executive director for the City’s safety and security directorate, said the problem building unit did not have the property listed, and no complaints had been received.
Ward 27 councillor Cecile Janse van Rensburg said she also hadn’t heard about the property.
“When residents experience frustration about a private property and they believe that by-laws and/or other regulations are being contravened, they can follow the established channels to request appropriate intervention from the City. Such requests will be attended to by the relevant departments,” she said.
The Northern News got hold of Eduard Hanekom, who said he managed the property on behalf of a relative, Christofell Jacobus Hanekom, who is listed as the owner.
Mr Hanekom said he regularly visited and inspected the premises.
“Should I find the property is overcrowded, I will ask my family member to instruct them to act according to the lease which allows a maximum of eight people on the property, if I remember correctly. The owner will also be back in the country within the next two months, should any other work needed to be carried out at the property,” he said.
Mr Hanekom said the two immediate neighbours both had his cell number and neither of them had contacted him about getting signatures for building plans.
*Jane Adams* name has been changed.