Tenants who live in Senator Park, a notorious block of flats in central Cape Town, and engage in crime are finding ways to work around the improved security measures so they can continue their unlawful activities.
And it is feared that next week, when the World Cup final draw celebrations are held in adjacent Long Street, drug dealers living in the building will try to take advantage of the locals and tourists who flock to the city centre.
Len Lowings, managing member of L&V Properties, which is responsible for Senator Park, said the company and owners of the flats were struggling to clamp down on tenants involved in criminal activities.
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Nearly three months ago a task team was set up to tackle the problems at Senator Park after UCT student Jeffrey Webster, 24, was held at gun and knifepoint in a bathroom there.
Lowings said a turnstile had since been installed at the entrance and tenants given access tags.
"But these guys ... click in with (the tag), then pass it on to someone else who clicks out and then gives it to another person who can then get in."
If a tag was found on someone whose ID number did not match that of the tenant who owned it, it would be confiscated.
Although a security guard manned the block's entrance, the guards often began working with tenants who were drug dealers, and had to be replaced, Lowings said.
Vandalism - such as damage to the lifts, which were not working because someone had "punched in the key pad" - was also common. Also, urine had corroded the wiring for the lifts.
"It's frustrating for everyone involved," Lowings said.
He said the owners of most of the flats were working with the Central City Improvement District (CCID), police and metro police to evict the criminals.
In three months, extra lighting had been installed around the building and two days ago a CCID security booth was set up nearby. Raids were continuing.
Taki Amira, chairman of the city subcouncil for the area, said drug dealers from Senator Park were expected to become more active during the World Cup final draw celebrations.
"It would be naive not to assume that when people and tourists flock to Long Street, drug dealing will increase."
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za
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This article was originally published on page 7 of Cape Times on November 25, 2009
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