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KNYSNA NEWS - An empty plot in Fichat Street, Knysna, which borders on Pledge Nature Reserve, has become a major bone of contention for residents who say it is fast becoming a drawing card for vagrants and criminals of all sorts – a ''real den of iniquity'' as one concerned citizen put it.
This site, Erf 434, is allegedly also being used as a hideout for drug users and prostitutes. Characters like these, residents say, have also attempted to gain entrance into the reserve for reasons that stretch the imagination.
A member of the Oyster Walk Homeowners' Association (which covers the Fichat Street area), Stefanie Hattingh, says the problem with the erf started almost a year-and-a-half ago. This was also when her emails to the department of public works (DPW) – which controls the erf in question – started, she says.
These communications were first made with Western Cape DPW regional manager Frederick Johnson, and then to Adele Groenewald at DPW Property Management.
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"They kept on promising me from that time that they would send someone to inspect and clean the erf regularly, but till today this has not happened once," she says. Hattingh even took it upon herself during this time to try and clean the area – a relentless task which she eventually gave up. Knysna Municipality was there once to cut down some trees about a month ago, she says, but still the DPW has made no attempt to even inspect the property.
Hattingh and her husband have on numerous occasions chased away undesirables from the area, she states, even going so far as calling in Allsound Security to assist. "They have been absolutely wonderful in helping where they can, but the vagrants and prostitutes keep coming back. I started feeling bad for calling them so often at one point, but they never say no," she says.
She adds that the issue is affecting the entire surrounding community but that residents look after each other and work together to safeguard the area.
According to Denise Crain, owner of Knysna Book Exchange in Pledge Square, even she as a business owner is concerned about the vagrants using that specific area. "It feels a bit unsafe there, which forces me to use an alternative entrance – which I am lucky to have. Some others don't have that option at all," she says.
Calls to the DPW were left unanswered at the time of going to print.
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