Hanover Park residents are calling on the City of Cape Town to take action against a contractor who left two metal containers on a veldjie
several years ago, after a man died there on Sunday.
Residents say the two containers which were used to house mense during upgrades of the City Flats more than four years ago have become a breeding ground for druggies and skollies.
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Ebrahiem Abrahams, says despite complaints being lodged with Ward councillor, Antonio van der Rheede, no action has been taken.
“We believe a man, named Rasta, who lived in the container has died.
“But those containers are a big problem as they are on City land and are being used by the gangsters (for cover).
“That field between Donegal and Algoa courts is a known battleground between the Americans and the Ghetto Kidz gangs.
“A few years ago the residents got gatvol and removed the fencing, but still the containers are there.
“It is dangerous for the community and the people living inside it, as you can see it is full of bullet holes.”
Rene Hendricks, who lives in one container with her family, confirms that her father, Abraham ‘Rasta’ Hendricks, died on Sunday.
“He had water on his lungs, it was a natural death. We have lived here a long time and I don’t know about complaints, but my father used to smoke heroin and there are two men that smoke buttons.
“There used to be water, but they cut it and now we use buckets. We don’t have anywhere to go,” she adds.
Van der Rheede said on Monday he has spoken to the
contractor.
“The contractor has cited that he could not remove it. However, he has committed to remove it in the next weeks.”