Despite the growing trend of illegal trading structures being erected by foreign nationals in Kraaifontein, court processes are frustrating authorities to have such structures removed as neighbourhoods are deteriorating but municipal valuations of properties, and rates only increase.
In one such case, residents have been battling for four years to have a big illegal sink structure removed off a sidewalk in one of their streets.
The sink structure was erected to serve as a shop front to a cash-and-carry. Further down in the CBD the pavements are crammed with illegal traders, most of which are foreign nationals.
Standing on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Kleinbegin Street, it not only blocks the pavement, but is filthy and unkempt, according to resident Adriaan Drotschie who first reported it in 2021. According to Drotschie the road is also being blocked by vehicles standing in front of the “shop”, contributing to the already heavy traffic congestion.
“This whole business is adding to the degradation of the area. These foreign national businesses behave as if the sidewalks belong to them. They do as they please and do not respect the surrounding residents,” says Drotschie.
Helpless residents have had to look on as the complaints were circulated from one City official to the next for years, while the structure still stands.
In a recent response to Drotschie, Charles Rudman from the office of the deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, informed Drotschie that the matter was heard in court and that an acknowledgement of debt was paid by the perpetrator.
“Notwithstanding all the work done by the City, the magistrate imposed a fine on the perpetrator without requiring that the illegal structure be removed. All the necessary time-consuming processes to have this case finally enrolled, the outcome of the court process proved highly frustrating. In fact, the outcome of the court process has not addressed the object which has given rise to your complaint. The district will need to launch a new process and whether a better outcome will be obtained is unpredictable at best,” said Rudman in an email seen by TygerBurger.
Drotschie says the outcomes are a complete let down by authorities, not to mention the waste of taxpayers money in court procedures.
“It is very concerning and leaves you with the idea that there is no political will to address a serious issue. This problem flows from the land grabs in recent years, where everyone now feel they have the right to put up shacks wherever they want to. If this is not stopped now, what will happen to Kraaifontein and other suburbs in the long run?”
He is also concerned about the increase in property values in the area, despite the degradation of the suburb.
“Our property values have increased with about R300 000 rand, increasing rates and additional electricity connection tariffs we now have to pay. It doesn’t make sense. We just don’t know what to do anymore. As ratepayers we pay more and more, while our neighbourhoods are deteriorating ceaselessly.”
Requesting more information from the City, spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo informed TygerBurger that there are currently two active building development management enforcement cases registered against the perpetrators and given that the matter is in court the City cannot comment any further.
