People living on Plot 72, between Pierre and Deysel Roads, have been left fearing for the safety of their children and that of unsuspecting pedestrians and motorists after a long trench was dug along the boundaries of the property last week.
The estimated five-metre deep trench was dug on Wednesday, 29 August, by a TLB tractor, according to the residents, who expressed their unhappiness over the situation.
“We just saw a big truck that offloaded a tractor loader backhoe (TLB) to dig the trench,” said Johannes Rampyapedi, a resident of the plot. “Nobody knew what was happening until the edges of the plot were empty with deep trenches after the excavation process,” he added, complaining that the plot owner, Johann Grobler, did not even inform them about the excavation.
Photo: Siso Naile.
“Grobler did not say anything to us and this is very dangerous because we have children that play around the plot. He didn’t even put up danger tapes afterwards to raise awareness,” Rampyapedi further explained.
Asked why the trenches were dug, and piles of soil left surrounding the property, Rampyapedi suggested that Grobler feared a land invasion which would result in shacks on his property.
Grobler dismissed the allegations of fearing land invasion. “The reason for the trench has nothing to do with the current political climate and talk of land invasions. The reason for the excavation is that my 18-strand electric fence and a parallel razor wire fence have been stolen at least four times,” he explained, adding that fencing the plot had cost him no less than R500 000, which he said he’s no longer willing to pay for, just to have it stolen again. “I had to dig a trench to demarcate the boundary of my plot, and created a sand wall in the process, as this is the only thing that can’t be stolen, although it seems that the sand wall is already been wheel-barrowed away,” he said.
Ward 97 PR councillor, Ralf Bittkau, commented on the matter. “When we heard about this, we got hold of the senior building inspector to ensure that the building and safety regulations were adhered to,” he said.
The inspector, who cannot be named, confirmed the inspection. He said he informed the owner to put up poles and wrap them with safety tape. This has been done by the owner.
It was quite evident that the dwellers and the plot owner do not see eye to eye. Grobler confirmed this by labelling the dwellers as trespassers and hijackers of his plot. “People on that property have been ordered by the courts to move out, but they just couldn’t care,” said Grobler. “The property was rented out to one or two of them more than 10 years ago and they decided they won’t pay any longer,” he said. “These people then destroyed the houses on the plot, cutting them into many small rooms and renting them out, ensuring a very nice monthly income for themselves, without any expenses such as rates and taxes and bond costs, which I have had to carry for at least the past eight years,” he explained, accusing four men, including Rampyapedi, of being behind the rental
and eviction battle.
This resulted in both the power and water being cut off, and illegal connections being made to the plot, according to Grobler. “Apparently there’s a guy there working for Eskom who is collecting money to connect the residents illegally,” he alleged.
“City Power has given up on all the illegal connections. They also abuse the pro bono legal fraternity, pleading poor, stretching the eviction process out as long as possible, until the pro bono organisation starts to see through them.
“This is obviously causing a loss of income for the lawyers. Needless to say, they have bought themselves very nice vehicles with the money they have made from my property,” Grobler explained.
Rampypedi concluded by saying that they’ve lived on the property for eight years and should Grobler decide to evict them, he should provide them with alternative accommodation.
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