The Record recently acted on tip-offs from the public regarding the old SAPS barracks at the corner of 8th Avenue in Roodepoort North, and went to investigate.
The Record was treated with a great deal of suspicion and only one or two of the barracks’ inhabitants were willing to talk to us.
Now a resident who has a view of the barracks property from his loft has come forward with more information.
Stephan Myburgh, who also is involved in the annual Roodepoort Miss Teen, says that he is so disgusted he does not even want to open his loft curtains anymore.
After the article had appeared in the Record his car was vandalised and he suspects that it is because the residents of the barracks believe that he blew the whistle on their illegal activities.
Myburgh also confirmed other accounts of drug peddling and has provided the Record with the name of the liquor wholesaler who delivers large quantities of alcohol three times a week, believed to be for shebeens.
“We have complained so much about the state of the old police barracks, only for it to fall on deaf ears,” bemoans Myburgh who has resided at the specific address for almost 28 years.
“The problem started about eight years ago when corrupt police officials took people in and took payment from them on a weekly basis. However, the officials’ plans backfired when the whole lot got clever and stopped paying, and started exercising their squatting rights. Since then nothing could be done.
If you speak to the SAPS they just say, ‘if you don’t want them here you must find them another place to stay’,” says an outraged Myburgh.
“How do you witness a rape, and don’t do anything to help the victim? They sell drugs and it’s visible to the public. One thing that I know for sure is that they supply the staff from (well-known wholesaler) with dagga on a daily basis.
“The same person with the disabled child you interviewed never told the Record that she is one of the first people who moved there, and that her daughter is running a tavern from that premises. There are two shebeens there and they receive alcohol just after 8am on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“People from outside come and drinks there and when they leave, they get robbed. Fights occur on a daily basis, where people get stabbed with bottles, or even beaten with bricks right outside our doorstep. The other night the ambulance only came after a third call,” Myburgh says angrily.
“They are given these CWP outfits but they sit in the sun in it the whole day. Who manages them? No one.
“I’m sorry, but this is merely rewarding bad behaviour. We want to speak to Marianne Kemp. If they can’t get rid of this dark shadow hanging over Roodepoort North, then she must provide those people with accommodation in her yard,” says Myburgh.
The Record is awaiting comment from Councillor Kemp.
