Francesca Villette
AUTHORITIES are probing why 9 000 litres of ammonia – a chemical sometimes used in the manufacturing of tik, was kept at a derelict Lansdowne house.
Following a tip-off from residents about alleged illegal activity at the Quick Road property, law enforcement and police yesterday swooped on the house where they found 36 containers each containing 250l of ammonia.
The city’s spokesman on problem buildings Wayne Aldridge said while no one lived in the house, its owner was aware of the containers and their contents, but gave no explanation about what he intended doing with it.
“(The owner) said he bought it at an auction, but he did not divulge what his intentions were,” Aldridge said. A seven-day notice was issued to the owner to give reason why the building should not be declared a problem building.
Another official said the owner told him he planned to use the chemical to manufacture a cleaning detergent.
“If he does not respond within the next seven days we will declare the building a problem and fine him R5 000,” Aldridge said.
A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had lived in the same street for the last four years and had never felt safe as there were “strange characters” who entered and left the house all the time.
“No one lives there, but there are always people in it. I rush to get my children into the car when we have to go somewhere. We are never outside. They hang mats on the fence so we can’t see inside,” she said. Every night her family was disturbed by people arguing in the house.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said police had received the tip-off yesterday and alerted law enforcement.