A new resident from Oakdale fears for his family safety as criminals use a tree outside in the street to access his property for criminal activities.
Sayed Adonis has turned to the City of Cape Town for help after criminals began using a tree outside his property to gain access to his home, forcing him and his family to live in fear.
Adonis, who moved to what he believed would be a “safe haven” for his retirement years, now finds himself installing expensive CCTV cameras and worrying about violent confrontations as intruders exploit the tree positioned against his vibracrete wall.
“I brought my family from Mitchells Plain to come live out here and thinking that it’s a safe haven.”
“The tree is right against my wall and criminals are using it to climb over and get onto my property,” said Adonis. “We thought we were moving somewhere safe, but now I fear for my family’s safety.”
The desperate pensioner has provided video evidence showing exactly how the tree can be used as a criminal access point, with footage captured on 1 December demonstrating the security vulnerability.
The ongoing security threat has placed an unexpected financial strain on Adonis, who has been forced to invest in surveillance equipment despite his limited pensioner’s income.
“I shouldn’t have to spend my pension money on security cameras because the City won’t deal with a tree that’s helping criminals break into my home,” he said. “All I wanted is for the City or Parks and Forest to come to my premises and assess the situation and advise,” he explained.
The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department has acknowledged Adonis’s concerns and made contact to address the situation.
“The tree removal request has been referred to an arboriculturist who needs to complete an assessment of the situation,” councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, confirmed. “Following the assessment, the complainant will receive a detailed update.”
“Tree removals are governed by relevant by-laws and national legislation,” the Higham stated, indicating that proper procedures must be followed before action can be taken.
Whilst the City has not provided a specific timeline for resolution, officials have committed to expediting the arboriculturist’s assessment and maintaining regular communication with Adonis throughout the process. Meanwhile, Adonis will have to deal with this situation during the festive season which is very concerning for him.
