VANDERBIJLPARK. – An SE7 resident on June 24 complained about a neighbour who has not had refuse removed for weeks.
The water in the neighbour’s swimming pool, she says, is a brackish, black colour because it has never been cleaned.
The surrounding area is being used as a dump and – in the past – a variety of unsuitable plastic bags was used too put out rubbish.
The complainant says the neighbour also left a tap running for three weeks and used the “swimming pool” to dump all kinds of rubbish.
The rubbish, aside from blowing on to her premises, has attracted colonies of rats and cockroaches which have invaded her home next door.
She is the mother of two children aged six and three and does not let them play outside unsupervised due to what she considers a health hazard.
She estimates that from 10 to 15 students have been living there, though the premises now seem to be vacant. A primary concern of the resident is that she is trying to sell her home and that potential buyers looking over the house once U-turned out after  seeing the mess next door and hearing the pulsing racket of music emanating from it. The double-storey house has been vacant for some time.
Ward 4 councillor Milu Malhou says the resident’s complaint reflects problems that have been common to the area since its “transformation” into a student area over the years.
Cllr Malhou (DA) points out, however, that the area has improved markedly ever since an exposΓÇÜ engineered by herself was aired on TV’s “Special Assignment”. The offending house itself appeared on the programme, showing police at about 2:00 as they jumped a fence, cut padlocks and made at least one arrest.
Malhou also reminds people that a court case against illegal landlords was recently won in Vereeniging, legal fees paid by residents.
She reports that visits to the area by the health inspector have declined.
In the past, she repeatedly had the police go to the double-storey in response to noise complaints from the resident. She went to the house personally several times, once even on a Sunday. She said the health inspector was looking into the complaints.
News source: Mooivaal Media – Vaalweekblad