An investigation will be conducted into the notorious South African railway building that has fallen into decay, much to the ire of Ladysmith residents.
The building is commonly known as the Old Dennis McDonald Hostel on Hilliard Oval in Egerton. This investigation was confirmed last week by the owners Transnet SOC Ltd following a visit to the property by The Ladysmith Herald. The building was supposed to be used for student accommodation.
Residents from Hilliard Oval said that the building has become a slum, is notorious and is infested with rodents and snakes along with it becoming a fire hazard. The hostel is also a hangout for school children who, residents claim, hang out there to consume alcohol
and use drugs. There is no running water or electricity. They claim that crime has also increased in their neighbourhood. Presently there are about 100 people living in the hostel, some are believed to be working for a fibre installation company, while others have taken up residence there. It is believed that people living there pay R500 a month for living accommodation. It was not established who the money was being paid to.
While investigating the story, The Ladysmith Herald reporter was told to stop asking questions and to leave the premises immediately. Transnet spokesperson, Ayanda Shezi, confirmed that the building was only to be used for student accommodation. She said that Transnet entered into a lease agreement with Fennic Investment from 1 September 2005, with it expiring on 31 July 2015. “Following the expiration of this agreement, the tenant was placed on a month-to-month contract which stipulates that all maintenance obligations should be handled by the tenant. Currently, the premises is o
nly to be used primarily as student accommodation,” said Shezi.
Residents, however, complained bitterly about thestate of the building and the decay that was creeping into the neighbourhood. Joe Petersen, who lives inthe area, said that the building has slowly deteriorated into a “squatter camp”.
“At least three walls collapsed over the last few months, luckily nobody was hurt, yet nothing is done to remedy the problems. It is also being used to dump rubble and all sorts of other things of recent. The premises is used by school children as a venue to drink and take drugs and for their sexual endeavours. The grass and vegetation never gets cut but burned, forcing their rat and snake population into the surrounding residential houses.The hostel rooms are rented out with no running water or electricity,” claimed Petersen.
One person living in the hostel threatened: “Are we supposed to live out on the street? I really don’t know why are you asking these questions and I would be very careful if I was you.” On closer inspection, most of the water pipes were stolen and the ablution facilities are no longer in working order. The hallways are dark and intimidating. In the evenings, lit candles can be seen through windows.
Petersen said that the condition of the building had a direct impact on the value of property in the area. “The health department is somehow lacking when it comes to the monitoring of the general cleanliness and hygiene at Hilliard Oval, but judging by the overgrown pavements, litter and the condition of the roads it would be expected. Rates are paid, but nothing is done,” he said.
The uThukela Municipality said that all the complaints raised by residents should be answered by the Alfred Duma Municipality.
Jabulani Mkhonza, uThukela District Municipality spokesperson, said: “With the exception of water supply, are the functions of the local municipality, and in this case it is Alfred Duma Municipality. With regard to water supply the landlord needs to come to our offices to open an account so that the premises will be connected with running water. It may be because there was no account opened with us. The landlord cannot run the rental business and not supply all the necessities to the tenants or expect to be supplied with water without paying for it while he’s making money out of the premises.”
Councillor Sharon Buys said that she emailed the municipal manager “a number of times since 2019”, alerting her to the untidy overgrowth, the pests plaguing Hilliard Oval residents, and the dangers inside the building including by-laws infrindgements. “The executive’s excuses, from budget to Covid-19 constraints, are unacceptable. The Alfred Duma Local Municipality needs to start focusing on our community, after all, no community, no millionaire management,” said Buys.
Abbas Warasally, another councillor, said that he visited the building after receiving complaints from residents. He said that he found that the hostel was in a sad state of affairs. Warasally said: “It’s unbelievable that residents would choose to make the hostel a dumping ground as it devalues their properties. Previously the hostel was a means of accommodation for students at the TVET college. It is sad that it has deteriorated to this extent. I hope that the parties responsible start putting some plan of action in place to rectify all these issues. I have reported this matter to the Municipal manager.”
The Ladysmith police was contacted for comment on claims of rising crime in the vicinity of the hostel, but said that this was a matter for the Alfred Duma Municipality. When asked about drinking and urinating in public, the selling of drugs and petty crimes and public disturbances, the police did not comment. Residents claimed that it did not matter how many times police were called, they do not respond. “We have seen people stabbing each other, assaults are common, but you will not find the police responding to the hostel,” said another resident, who said that the ward councillor was also doing nothing to remedy the problem.
The Alfred Duma Municipality did not comment at the time of going to press. Transnet added that in its plans to expand its commercial and residential property portfolios across South Africa, they appointed Kapei Phahlamohlaka in September. “Part of His mandate is to use the company’s property portfolio in secondary towns as a catalyst for local economic development. Since his appointment, Mr Phahlamohlaka has set up a team of property specialists who, over the coming months, will conduct site visits to a number of properties.
“These site visits include the building in question, which will be visited during this month to determine a plan of action,” said Shezi.
