VEREENIGING. – Several tenants are now forced to close their respective businesses in Union Street.
Contractors were supposed to install sewer pipes months ago, but a huge hole in the ground testifies that the operation is far from complete.
Shop owners were forced to close business as they were not making any profit because no-one is able to make it across the ‘big hole.’
It is however not only the tenants who are losing thousands of rands each month. Landlords are also facing bankruptcy.
“I am so far behind, owing more than R40 000 for rates and taxes,” says Mr Goolam, a landlord.
The number of the students renting in the are has dropped dramatically.
“They complain about the stench coming from the pipes,” he says.
According to Goolam several fruitless meetings were held with the main contractor, Emfuleni Municipality and himself.
“The contractor kept on promising to complete the work by the end of each month. There were many excuses but no results.”
Mrs Karin Louw, manager of Bovu Pumps said the duration of construction was made clear to all landlords and duration depends on the kind of jobs conducted on site.
The site manager in Union Street, known only as Abraham, said they are waiting for the water level to drop before they can excavate the burst bottom pipe.
