The discovery of a body of an unidentified man at the Victoria Lodge informal settlement has residents urgently seeking to remove dense overgrown bush that they say has been drawing criminals into the community.
On Tuesday 28 March, children playing under trees made the grisly discovery.
When People’s Post arrived at the scene, a police vehicle and two police officers inspected the scene.
Kobus Killian, a community leader and resident at the informal settlement, says the bush has become a concern as strangers erect illegal structures.
“The children are always playing this side and one of the children found the body, told my wife who then woke me up. We came to take a look and discovered the body at around noon.
“It is the body of a man but we don’t know him, we can’t see his face because the body was lying face down, but he is not one of us from the community.”
Killian added that just the previous day, residents dismantled two structures that had popped up over night.
“Yesterday, we took down hokkies over here and at the time, that body was not there because all of us were here to help take down the structures.
“We don’t know who this person is and where he came from. This bush is a problem because people come in here, they erect structures and we don’t want that. We are a small community and we would like to have this bush removed so that this type of stuff doesn’t happen.”
He adds that they also witnessed men trying to steal the overhead cables the previous night.
“Last night, there were guys who wanted to steal cables. They had a ladder and then we came out and they left.
“So, we don’t know if it is perhaps one of them who hurt themselves, we wouldn’t know.”
Killian claims that he approached his local councillor for help in removing the bush and illegal structures.
“Two weeks ago, we went to the ward councillor, myself and two other people from the community. We had a meeting and asked if they can’t remove this dense bush for us because all sorts of people come here and it was never like that before.
“And look at what happened here now. This is the fourth body to be taken out here.”
Last year, three men were shot dead execution style at the entrance of the informal settlement next to the M5 highway.
“This must be cut down so that strangers don’t find space to put up structures, but there are still three more. We would appreciate it if those people can be removed and the bush cut down.
“Most of the people living here are old people and we want everyone to be safe, especially the children. We have also asked for a fence but were told this is part of Princess Vlei so it would not happen.”
Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate admits he has been made aware of the issues.
“The matter has been brought to my attention and I have been dealing with the issue for the past three months.
“It is illegal structures and not part of the informal settlement.
“It is also alleged that the people (putting up illegal structures) are attracting wrong elements and are part of the increase in crime. This has been reported, especially since the overhead electricity cables have now been stolen five times in a row to the point that the City said they would not replace it.
“I had, however, intervened and the overhead cables were replaced by the City again for the sixth time.”
