For years, the Barry Hertzog Shopping Complex in Newcastle has been a persistent headache for residents in the area and the pre-school operating on the premises.
However, the situation has now escalated to intolerable levels.
“The fencing by our property has been damaged and broken due to people bumping their cars into it constantly. Then there is the urinating against the school building, and people smoking substances outside during the day, with the smells wafting through the classroom windows where the children are. We can’t approach the people responsible, as they become aggro when we do,” began a staff member from Hertzog Park Pre-Primary, who wished to remain anonymous.
She further complained that the individuals who frequent the complex for partying also blared loud music at all hours, disturbing classwork and residents in the vicinity. This is compounded by people allegedly speeding with their cars on the property or when leaving the complex. Additionally, the educator noted that every morning the school’s staff had to help clean up the front of the school, clearing away alcoholic bottles and other debris to ensure the children do not have to walk through broken glass and other waste.
“The front of any school is the face of the school, and how must parents feel about the safety of their children when they see what is going on here at the complex? We have reported the situation to the Municipality and police multiple times over the years, but nothing gets done,” she explained.
A resident living on Frikkie Meyer Avenue, the road that runs past the complex, noted that the situation has reached a point where the Newcastle Municipality needs to step in. Wishing to remain anonymous out of fear of being victimised, the resident explained, “The shopping complex is getting out of hand, especially on pay day when people party hard. We cannot carry on like this, not with the constant noise, the drinking, the litter, and irresponsible behaviour. Someone is eventually going to get hurt,” said the irate resident.
In addition to the above mentioned, upon arriving at the shopping complex, the smell of urine and faeces adds to the shocking nature of the situation.
Speaking with Newcastillian News and stepping up to address the issue, Newcastle Municipality’s Ward 5 Councillor, Cllr Muzi Ndlovu highlighted that he would be taking action to resolve the problems at the shopping complex.
“I have received numerous complaints about the Barry Hertzog Shopping Complex, and I have plans in place to address the issues. This will involve calling a public meeting where we will educate residents about the by-laws and how we will enforce them in the area to put an end to the situation. What is currently happening at the complex is not right, and I will speed up the process to ensure the by-laws are enforced and this behaviour is stopped,” emphasised Cllr Ndlovu, who assured residents he was taking the matter seriously.
With a glimmer of hope now in place, what are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 4
The biggest problem within the complex is that lounge which is open, ( the owner of the complex as well as the owner of the lounge is to blame for the issues arising within the area, they obviously don’t have consideration for the residents or the rest of the tenants in the complex all they see is money) The pre-school has being since the 80’s they should have being taken into consideration first). It’s disgusting to see how the patrons of the lounge carry on, and none of the lounge’s staff do anything about the behavior they just continue selling the alcohol with smiles, pass there on a Sunday morning and you see how these people are still drinking, and if the lounge is closed they simply move onto the liquor store to purchase more alcohol, the lounge should be closed at a given time and the liquor store should be closed, those who don’t want to obey to the times should be made to clean the mess they leave behind, take jeyes fluid and wash were they have urinated ect, give them brooms to clean, they will soon learn to keep the area clean if that doesn’t work get the complex owner, lounge owner and staff to do the clean up,take some of their money and build a fence around the school entrance with an automatic security gate for the parents, teachers and children so that school area is safe and kept clean, those who mess outside of that fence need to clean, pick up the litter, if there is faceses make them pick it up
As for the school insist that the owner of the complex is there to help clean up, after all the school does pay rent, so the landlord can accomadate, the school. No reason why the municipality needs to clean up after any body who consumes alcohol and cannot behave themselves. I realize the municipal get paid for cleaning, honestly how many of us out there wants to clean up after some inconsiderate intoxicated person has messed.
Clearly the revelant owners of the complex and the lounge are not man enough to address the situation.
That old Post Office Lockers must be demolished as they are now used to urinate into, I’ve seen it happen many times, it’s disgusting to say the least. Substitute them for public toilets, I don’t know. The whole area is stinking urine and very unhygienic.
Who is the owner of the complex?. He should be targeted in such a way that he is forced to take responsibility for maintenance and control of the complex instead of just collecting rent at the end of the month.
What are the stipulations on the liquor licence issued to the owner of the lounge. Under the liquor control act there are stipulations regulating the sale of liquor within a certain distance from a school. How did he get passed this hurdle?.
I passed there , a week ago and I must say it’s not looking good at all . For a place that has a pre-school near by no man