Cape Town to expand its Social Housing Unit’s scope after early successes
The City of Cape Town said its Social Housing Unit is making inroads in its bid to make city-owned rental stock areas safer‚ responding to over 450 complaints and making 63 arrests during the first six months of 2016 alone.Tasked with addressing crime and other social ills in city-owned rental stock and making sure that tenants toe the line‚ the unit received complaints including allegations of drug peddling‚ the operation of illegal shebeens as well as illegal occupation‚ the city said in a statement on Sunday.“They issued 430 compliance notices‚ made 63 arrests (the bulk of which were for drug-related offences) and issued 321 fines totalling R248 550 for various by-law transgressions‚” the statement read.In the statement‚ the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security‚ Jean-Pierre Smith‚ said complaints about gangsters invading rental properties “are not new”.“Getting them out is an arduous task‚ even when we take the legal route. The ‘Little House on the Prairie’ property is an example of the marathon that an eviction battle can be.“The fact that our staff managed to help get these illegal occupants out without the city having to go to court is an achievement to be proud of‚” Smith said of a notorious gang-operated drug den and shebeen.“Another big plus that’s come with this Blue Flag Project is the change in mindset that has been evident in so many of the tenants.“Where before there was very little regard for law enforcement agencies‚ including the SAPS‚ the successes of recent months have gone a long way in building relationships and trust between law enforcement officials and tenants‚’ Smith added.The city says it is also getting ready to advertise a series of new posts for the unit.“These new posts will carry the functions of both law enforcement and housing officials‚ ie they will deal with urban decay and maintenance issues in addition to enforcement and policing.“It is envisioned that‚ in the future‚ the unit will deal not only with crime and safety‚ but with general by-law enforcement and complaints relating to quality of life‚ in order to help improve conditions for residents in our rental housing units in a holistic manner‚” the statement added. - TMG Digital..
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