The latest fire on Chanelle and Clifton Felix’s property damaged walls and windows.
A Brooklyn business has suffered thousands of rand worth of damage from fires made with impunity by nearby squatters, say the property’s owners.
Chanelle and Clifton Felix say several fires have been lit next to their Koeberg Road property for the past year, most recently on Tuesday February 13 and Wednesday May 15, and the problem persists despite them having reported it to the police and the City.
The squatters blamed for the fires are on the couple’s property, their shelters pressed up against a wall.
“I have really made every conceivable effort to keep this issue out of the media and social media. However, the City ‘that works for you’ has chosen to turn a blind eye to my plight and the plight of the community at large,” said Ms Felix.
“I have provided the City with photographic evidence and it is on record that there have been several fires at this location, caused by the homeless people living in the informal structures attached to my building. I have pointed out in detail the dangers which exist here as well as the various health, crime and social issues - which sooner or later will cause injury and or even death.”
Ms Felix provided Tabletalk with case numbers for two cases of arson opened at Milnerton SAPS in February and May.
“Ironically I sent pictures of people making a fire to the City, just days before the latest fire. After which I was told that Law Enforcement would do a clean-up operation in the area on May 13. This obviously did not happen. However, the fire of May 15 did happen,” she said.
Mr Felix said the February fire had caused R150 000 damage to the property. He hasn’t yet received an estimate for the damage caused by the May fire.
“I have had several interactions with Law Enforcement, who have managed to remove the informal structures and their occupants from time to time, for which I am extremely grateful. Unfortunately, they always return, and everything is back to the ugly normal within a few days. With the event of the last fire and in the interest of safety, I was forced to have the building vacated. This has caused me to lose further income and the building is now a permanent security nightmare - as it is being continually vandalised and illegally occupied,” he said.
Mr Felix would like the City to put up a fence to protect his and other businesses in the area.
“I have seen many areas where fencing has been erected outside businesses and shops on the pavement, thereby creating a no-man's land and making it virtually impossible for makeshift structures to be erected there. This has worked successfully all over the City and had the desired effect of moving the homeless people without any further interventions required. A fence would definitely make it impossible for erection of any informal structures against my building and would therefore eradicate all of the aforementioned problems,” he said.
City Law Enforcement spokesman Wayne Dyason said the City’s Displaced People Unit had dealt with the matter several times.
“In the absence of a valid eviction order, law enforcement authorities are constrained from intervening. It is imperative that any criminal activities associated with this occupation be reported to the South African Police. Law Enforcement will, however, be prepared to assist the police with any necessary support when addressing this issue. We will arrange a meeting with the complainant to discuss the potential procedures that may be followed in addressing this situation,” he said.
Milnerton SAPS did not respond by time of publication to questions sent on Monday.