The finger-pointing has started in Summer Greens after a house that the City says has had illegal alterations done to it was vandalised.
The incident a few weeks ago follows mounting anger in the community over illegal building activity and the proliferation of illegally built boarding houses in the area, and earlier this month, at a meeting in the suburb with residents and the councillor, it was confirmed that the work being done at 2 Emerald Way did not have City building approval (“Anger grows over illegal buildings,” Tabletalk, May 8).
The day after the meeting, residents woke to find the glass doors and windows at the controversial property had been smashed.
The owner, Austin Ogbu, said he had opened a case with the police, but he declined to comment further.
Tabletalk was unable to confirm with Milnerton SAPS by the time of publication whether a case had been opened.
The incident has led to a flurry of rumours and accusations on community WhatsApp groups, and, in response, the Summer Greens Neighbourhood Watch has denied that any of its members had a hand in the vandalism.
Watch chairman Preston Ringquest said people were quick to make accusations without any evidence.
“We would like to detract ourselves from the events that took place at number 2 Emerald Way. There are too many fingers being pointed at the SGNHW implicating our organisation as being responsible for what happened without any evidence. And we know who those people that are pointing fingers are,” he said.
Summer Greens Ratepayers Association chairwoman Bridgette Lloyd accused the police of responding quickly to the vandalism case but not to other crimes in the area.
“The homeowners in the community are fed up with all the illegal building and overcrowded boarding houses that are unkempt, and some are being built with second-hand material. The community are all frustrated and it seems our hands are tied and the perpetrators just get a slap on the wrist. We find that SAPS were quick to respond to Mr Ogbu’s case for vandalism of a property whereby the transfer is still in process and built illegally. But police visibility is lacking in our area where crime has escalated.”
Ward councillor Anthony Benadie condemned any acts of violence and vandalism.
“However, I have full sympathy for the plight of residents who are trying desperately to save Summer Greens and their property investment. Owners such as this, conducting illegal building, are systematically eroding the very fabric of a healthy and functional community,” he said.
Carla Jafta, a Summer Greens resident for 20 years, said she was tired of seeing people breaking by-laws with impunity.
“The amount of hoops I had to jump through to get some work done on my property was simply crazy. And now to think the someone can just build anything they like and not even care about neighbours, the rules, etc. So I get the residents being frustrated. All these illegal builders need to know that we will not stand for this. Look, I don’t like any violence, but I can’t control how other people show their frustrations,” she said.
