Lotus River clinic an accident waiting to happen

Neil Jacobus points to the structure at the old Lotus River clinic where the area is used as a dumping site.

The old Lotus River clinic, in Klip Road, remains an eyesore as the dilapidated building looks ready to collapse and continues to be vandalised.

Neil Jacobus, a Lotus River resident and member of Carola Neighbourhood Watch, fears for the children who use the site as a playground as well as for the homeless who sleep there.

The structure is being held up by a thick layer of bricks which is being chipped away by residents.

Mr Jacobus said the City had sent contractors to break down the back wall but the rubble is still scattered on the ground.

“I have contacted Law Enforcement, I have contacted the councillor and it was promised that this would be demolished. The other day I found two kids walking under this (the building) and the authorities are not taking an interest in the communities safety,” said Mr Jacobus.

Leslie Isaacs, manager for Lotus River Youth Club, which is based at the premises, also fears that the building will collapse on the children who use the area as a pathway to and from school.

“Are the officials going to wait till an accident happens before they are going to do something about this?”

Ward 65 councillor Patricia van der Ross says the City is in the process of having the building demolished.

“Law enforcement is doing random spot checks around the area and so does SAPS at night as there are endless complaints of people not only sleeping but removing the bricks from the premises. We are doing our best to keep the area safe until demolition takes place,” said Ms Van der Ross.

Spokesperson for Grassy Park police, Warrant Officer Wynita Kleinsmith, said there are regular patrols in the sector and no incidents have been reported in the past month.

The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for area south, Eddie Andrews, said submissions for quotations for the demolition closed last week and these will be adjudicated by the City of Cape Town’s Supply Chain Management Department. “This process generally takes approximately two weeks, after which a supplier should be on site.”