A rat plague has been wreaking havoc on Belvedere Road in Claremont, and residents are desperate for intervention.
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According to the People’s Post, the infestation stems from a problematic open plot at 97 Belvedere Road, used as a camping spot, public toilet and dumping site by homeless individuals.
Mandy Pott, a business owner across the road, says she recently tried to contact the owner of the property. ‘The last time the owners did anything with the property was to put up a green chain-link fence to try and keep the [homeless] out at the end of 2021,’ she told People’s Post.
However, parts of this fence were broken down in early October last year when the homeless tried to gain access to it. ‘By this time the [homeless] had erected tents with beds, using it as a public toilet in full view of passersby, including my clients and staff.’
Pott adds that waste pickers also contribute to the rat problem by leaving their ‘aftermath’ on the property. ‘The property was completely rat-infested. The smell and the flies were intolerable. When the wind blows it picks up rubbish and deposits it all over our property on the opposite side of the road.’
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The City of Cape Town’s ‘cleansing department’ reportedly arrived at the property on 30 December but they ‘wouldn’t go onto the property because it was privately owned, so they left. Then the police arrived, took some pictures and put up a notice of warning,’ she says.
Potts then decided to contact the councillor. ‘Her reply was that the issue had been reported to the City’s Problem Building Unit (PBU) and that’s the best she could do.’
Ward 58 councillor Katherine Christie says the PBU issued a notice to the owner to clean and secure the property.
‘According to City legislation, owners of properties that are neglected and cause security problems in the neighbourhood receive penalties charged to their municipal rates accounts.’
‘These increase every month until action is taken to secure the property. Should no action be taken, theoretically the penalty keeps growing until the City can claim the property to offset [the] accumulated debt,’ she adds. ‘The City then disposes of the property to someone who will steward it properly.’
Penny Owens, chair of the Claremont CPF sub-forum one and four, confirmed the situation at the property.
‘Neighbouring properties have had to contend with vermin, displays of various stages of nakedness by homeless folk, washing and carrying out their ablutions in full view of the public and a variety of anti-social, often criminal, behaviour.’
‘This is proving a concern to neighbouring businesses, residents and numerous security providers in the area.’
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On Wednesday, 21 February, a fire broke out on the property. ‘The fire spread very quickly setting trees alight and, I believe, doing some damage to the College of Magic buildings,’ says Pott.
‘The fire brigade was there for about an hour trying to extinguish the fire.’
According to the City’s law enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason, the property is being investigated by the PBU. He agrees that the conditions at the property are ‘unhealthy/unsanitary, overgrown vegetation [with] dumping taking place.’
However, it currently falls on the property owner to address illegal occupation and health and safety challenges. ‘The PBU has issued a notice of intent to declare it a Problem Property, in line with the provisions of the Problem Building By-law.’
‘That said, the PBU can effect a clean-up at the property once it has been declared a Problem Property, and bill the owner on their rates.’
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Also read:
SPCA guardian finds six rats abandoned in their cage on a public field
Picture: Brett Jordan / Unsplash
