Windsor Homeowners Stripped of Wealth
29 April 2016
The City of Johannesburg’s failure to implement by-laws to halt crime, slum lords, and drug dealers has effectively stripped Windsor homeowners of their wealth and the value in their homes.
As drug and slum lords have gained a foothold in property developments in Windsor East, hardworking homeowners find themselves owning properties in a fast-decaying suburb. A property that has become a worthless asset.
The ANC of today, the government in Joburg, has changed. It is no longer the ANC of Nelson Mandela, an ANC that cared for people and for communities.
Today, some owners have abandoned their homes, which have now been taken over by opportunistic slumlords who rent out the rooms at exorbitant rates as the ANC government fails them. Other owners have willingly moved out and also charge inflated rentals, irrespective of the character of their tenants.
Caretakers have become renowned for renting out hot-beds, where one person sleeps there in the day, and then the bed is taken over by someone who sleeps there in the evenings. Whole buildings have been hijacked by illegal residents and all in all, the entire area is being degraded.
The City of Johannesburg is aware of the situation and yet continues to turn a blind eye to the cancer of illegal occupation and the flouting of by-laws. I find it unconscionable that the City has failed to investigate the by-law transgressions and instead allows its residents’ wealth to be diminished due to the City’s lack of interest and concern.
The neglect for law enforcement, and letting our communities become slums under this ANC government shows how we need change to move forward again.
A DA government would not tolerate the crime of drug-dealing that takes place openly, it would not tolerate illegal occupation of homes, it would not allow slumlords and their nefarious activities to degenerate the City’s suburbs. The DA is committed to making life better where it governs.
Issued by Isabella Morris, Chief of Stqff to Herman Mashaba, DA Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate, 29 April 2016
