Fury at 'drug-den parties'

2008-02-18 23:05

Cobus Claassen

Pretoria - Residents of the posh Muckleneuk suburb are up in arms about late-night parties at a house which is said to be a "drug-den".

The problems began last year when the owner of a house on the corner of Bourke and Mentz streets decided to let it as a student commune.

More than 20 "tenants" are alleged to be sharing the place and neighbours are complaining that drug abuse and prostitution flourish there, especially at weekends.

Professor Vollie Spies, a social work and criminology lecturer at the University of Pretoria, said her life had become a living hell since her new neighbours moved in.

Spies, who lives with her son and her 88-year-old mother, said she feared for her life since police raided the house last month.

During the raid, two Nigerians were arrested for possession of drugs.

Three housebreaking attempts

A private detective warned Spies that police found bank statements, a cellphone account and a photo of her during the raid.

Spies said there had been three housebreaking attempts at her home since December.

Remarks such as "You white bitch" were regularly shouted over the wall.

Spies said: "At weekends, there are usually at least 40 people here who party till the sun comes up.

"Some of them have told me about the drugs and prostitution."

She said Sunnyside police station was "not interested in investigating complaints of disturbing the peace".

"I phoned four times and my son once on Saturday night. I decided in the early hours of the morning to go to the police station to ask for help in person."

Spies said that, in the past, police had arrived to quieten the partygoers, "only for the partying to resume two hours later".

Another neighbour who spoke to Beeld newspaper on condition of anonymity, said he could not believe that people were allowed to kick up "such a helluva racket" in a residential area.

Residents feel the house owner, Gerrit de Preez, should take the rap.

Du Preez said on Monday that, until recently, he had not been aware who was living in the house.

"They're occupying the place illegally. I've started legal action this month to evict them." Du Preez said someone who had worked for him dealt with the letting of the house, until that person "ran away" in November.

Not getting any rent

"I was under the impression he was letting the house to students.

"I nearly had a heart attack when I heard what was going on in the house. I live in Muckleneuk myself and wouldn't dream of attracting that type of troublemaker here."

He denied receiving any rent for the property at present.

The spokesperson for Sunnyside police station, Malofe Mashiane, did not respond to an enquiry on Monday.

- Beeld