A multimillion-rand housing project that was abandoned for over a decade has now been taken over by vagrants and drug addicts who terrorise the community by robbing them, breaking into their homes, and stealing items from their yards.
Flats near the Dube hostel in Soweto, which were built by the Gauteng provincial government to relocate those living in the overcrowded hostel, have now been vandalised with windows, door frames and doors stolen. But this is not the only problem. Now that the criminals have stripped the half-built building, they have turned their attention to surrounding homes, with robberies and house break-ins a common occurrence.
A hostel Induna, who did not want to be named for fear of being victimised, told TimesLIVE Premium he was concerned about the amount of crime that happens in the area as a result of the abandoned flats, which he described as a haven for criminals.
He said the criminals are so brazen that they don't care what time of day it is or if they are seen committing crimes.
“It is not safe here as this place is now home to nyaopes [nyaope addicts], they have taken over this area,” he said.
He said the project came to a halt with a few blocks completed and many people had been looking forward to moving into the new structures.
“They started renovating a portion of the area which took two years, then after that the project stopped completely and we don't understand why. We were keen to pay and move in, but we are now faced with fighting crime in these abandoned buildings,” he said.
The community wants the abandoned flats to be demolished as several dead bodies have been dumped there.
Community member Bongani Ngcobo, whose niece was found murdered, said they were dealing with daily complaints about the place.
“Ever since this place has been like this, I don't know how many dead bodies we have collected here, even our own daughter was killed and dumped here.
“Plenty women have been raped there, including elderly women.Nyaope users are eaten by rats and are found days after they died. There are working men who want homes and are keen to pay, but look at this place now,” said Ngcobo.
Local councillor Simelane Phindlie said people were living in fear around Meadowlands.
“We have asked the housing department to demolish the structure, because there are a lot of criminal acts, and how these houses are built is wrong, and there is no way people could ever live here. There is no infrastructure underneath, so when it rains, there is a blockage of water and people can't live here.”
The building of the flats was part of a province-wide project aimed at eradicating apartheid government single-gender hostels meant for migrant workers. In Soweto, the plan was to eradicate the single-gender hostels in Diepkloof, Meadowlands, Dube and Jabulani.
In another section of Soweto, Mzimhlophe, similar flats were built and though they are not yet occupied, they have not been vandalised. The difference here, according to residents, is that these flats have been properly secured by a fence, something that should have also been done with the Dube flats.
The Gauteng department of human settlements failed to respond to repeated requests for comment.
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