An abandoned, crumbling old Southernwood house has infuriated the businesses that surround it.
They are convinced it is a haven for drug dealers and prostitutes and want it demolished.
They said No 8 St Patrick’s Road – once used as offices, a commune and a spaza shop – was partially destroyed in a fire about four years ago.
A second fire months later destroyed the roof leaving little more than a shell.
Harcourts estate agent Dina Anvari said the house, which has professional rights, would have been worth about R1.65- million had it been maintained.
“St Patrick’s is a good address in Southernwood. I wonder where the owners are,” she said.
When Daily Dispatch visited the house yesterday, piles of rubble, rubbish and head-high weeds clogged up the front rooms and the stench of human faeces emanated from its interior.
Estate administrator Shirley Campbell of Paterson Trustees, which is situated next door to the trashed house, said it was being used as a sex den.
“Yesterday I saw a schoolgirl and a young man coming out of there. They are also selling drugs there and probably use it for prostitution,” said Campbell, who sent a complaint Buffalo City Metro (BCM) a few years ago, but received no response.
She said she had located the title deed for the house which stated it was registered in 1996 to a Section 21 company called Eastern Cape Municipal Support Services.
When the Dispatch called a number listed online for a company of the same name but with an Mthatha address, it reached an automated voicemail saying the number no longer existed.
Across the road from No 8, Brer Fox Educare Centre owner Lynn Broedelet said a parent had recently been mugged when parking outside the crumbling house, while another had a wheel and battery stolen.
“A couple of parents have phoned and asked what was going on at the house, because they saw people running in and out with pangas and knives about six weeks ago. Police took over an hour to get here.”
Neighbours said opportunists had started pulling into the backyard and dumping builders rubble.
BCM did not respond to queries by the time of writing. In December the municipality told the Dispatch the land department referred the matter to the building department to trace the owner of the house. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Deserted Southernwood house irks neighbours
They are convinced it is a haven for drug dealers and prostitutes and want it demolished.
They said No 8 St Patrick’s Road – once used as offices, a commune and a spaza shop – was partially destroyed in a fire about four years ago.
A second fire months later destroyed the roof leaving little more than a shell.
Harcourts estate agent Dina Anvari said the house, which has professional rights, would have been worth about R1.65- million had it been maintained.
“St Patrick’s is a good address in Southernwood. I wonder where the owners are,” she said.
When Daily Dispatch visited the house yesterday, piles of rubble, rubbish and head-high weeds clogged up the front rooms and the stench of human faeces emanated from its interior.
Estate administrator Shirley Campbell of Paterson Trustees, which is situated next door to the trashed house, said it was being used as a sex den.
“Yesterday I saw a schoolgirl and a young man coming out of there. They are also selling drugs there and probably use it for prostitution,” said Campbell, who sent a complaint Buffalo City Metro (BCM) a few years ago, but received no response.
She said she had located the title deed for the house which stated it was registered in 1996 to a Section 21 company called Eastern Cape Municipal Support Services.
When the Dispatch called a number listed online for a company of the same name but with an Mthatha address, it reached an automated voicemail saying the number no longer existed.
Across the road from No 8, Brer Fox Educare Centre owner Lynn Broedelet said a parent had recently been mugged when parking outside the crumbling house, while another had a wheel and battery stolen.
“A couple of parents have phoned and asked what was going on at the house, because they saw people running in and out with pangas and knives about six weeks ago. Police took over an hour to get here.”
Neighbours said opportunists had started pulling into the backyard and dumping builders rubble.
BCM did not respond to queries by the time of writing. In December the municipality told the Dispatch the land department referred the matter to the building department to trace the owner of the house. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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