Siphelele Nketo
THE rising concerns over unoccupied and abandoned houses in the Kokstad town and township areas have resulted in the municipality taking action against property owners. The Greater Kokstad Municipality spokesperson Zolani Siqwayi confirmed that the municipality has issued notices to property owners, cautioning them to look after their properties because they attract crime. Siqwayi said the municipal council approved a bylaw that grants the municipality permission to take action against abandoned structures.
However, the bylaw has not yet been activated since the municipality is still waiting for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to officially gazette it.
“Some of these properties owe the municipality a levy,” said Siqwayi. The municipality, led by the Spatial Planning Unit, conducted an inspection in all abandoned houses recently.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with the police, Municipal Traffic unit, Local Economic Development unit and Disaster Management Unit.
The inspection targeted abandoned houses that were allegedly being used to store stolen goods and occupied by homeless people. During the operation, copper wire was recovered from one of the houses.
