A month after a pensioner and former teacher called on the City for help to put an end to her nightmare after her retirement dream home was crushed by sand dunes, the property has now become a haven for criminals and sex workers, who gather in the street right in front of her door.
Faheema Majiet, 63, from Macassar, reached out to the Cape Argus this week again, claiming that City officials together with the local ward councillor, Peter Helfrich, failed to come to her rescue and even ruined her Eid celebrations as she was unable to clean or decorate her property.
Last month, Majiet said she made several complaints to the City, asking for assistance in removing the massive sand dunes outside of her home, which is just 50 metres away from the ocean.
She described in horror how her infrastructure such as her garage was damaged and how they were unable to park their vehicles in front of the premises.
“On March 19, I received an email from the premier's office informing me that my concerns were valid and that it’s not a matter for the premier but that I should send my concerns to the mayor and also that she saw that I had included the ward councillor of ward 109 in my email and that it’s the duty of the City and she hoped that said ward councillor would act upon my request,” she said.
“Very shortly after receiving this email, the ward councillor emailed me reminding me that I requested the City to remove sand from my private premises, which is untrue, but now that he sees that the dunes are on the sidewalks and the road, he will have it removed.
“It is April 16 and no-one came out to the residence, nor had I any correspondence from anyone regarding the sand dunes and the absence of street lights.”
She said the area outside of her home had become a haven for criminals and added to her stress.
“A few days ago three young unsavory men walked over the sand dunes, over my garage gate and were in the process of getting undressed ready to go for a swim as it was easier for them to do it here because the toilets on the beach are locked most times.
“Every evening when the sun sets, prostitutes in cars park in front of my residence and do their trade.
“Men get out of their vehicles and urinate in the road and cars with people stop and play their loud music here.
"This is a result of the road having no lights. Bodies have been dumped on the beach quite often because there’s no lights here.
“Seems I’m the only one complaining because some of the beach residents got lights erected in front of their homes and even have a communal water tap and use it to water their gardens etc.
“I am not safe here. It's unpleasant, unsafe and a real nightmare having a ward councillor who gets paid to do a job but just refuses to do it. Promises and lies and does nothing.
“After Ramadan we celebrated Eid but because of the dunes I could not even clean my house nor have family or friends over.
“I pay the utility bill in full every month but the City does nothing for me."
Luthando Tyhalibongo, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town, said they were aware of the complaint and it was under investigation.
The City said they would look into her latest claims but have yet to reply. The Cape Argus tried to get comment from the ward councillor, but he did not reply to messages or emails.
Cape Argus