Cape Town – Criminals, alien vegetation, illegal dumping, and rats are some of the problems posed by vacant private plots, said the City of Cape Town on Monday.
“The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Health Department continues to face an uphill battle with private property owners who leave their vacant plots to fall into a state of neglect and ruin, posing health risks,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Siyabulela Mamkeli.
The City reported individuals, companies, and various government departments who left land vacant caused “several health nuisances” to the general population.
It also cost the ratepayer significantly.
“Examples of problematic properties include those where street people, loiterers or criminal elements congregate; alien vegetation that poses a fire hazard; properties used for illegal dumping of household, garden or builders’ waste; and properties harbouring vermin like rats,” said Mamkeli.
In the 2013/14 financial year, 1 846 compliance notices were issued to private property owners found to be in contravention of the City’s Environmental Health By-law which makes provision for the City to have problematic sites cleaned up and to recoup the costs from the property owners.
“A total of 615 properties were cleaned up at a cost to ratepayers of just over R1.9 million. In the previous financial year, the department cleaned 642 private properties,” said Mamkeli.
“While the almost R2 million spent on clean-ups might not seem like a lot of money, it is worth noting that it is double the available budget for desperately needed security upgrades at our clinics. We bill the property owners, but there is no guarantee that they’ll pay up and do so promptly,” said Mamkeli.
Complaints about vacant plots posing potential health and safety hazards can be directed to the nearest Environmental Health Office or to the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089.
African News Agency