Crime irks Parly village MPs

2001-03-02 21:13

Cape Town - Residents of Acacia Park near Cape Town are up in arms over what they describe as poor management and lax security at the subsidised parliamentary village.

Democratic Alliance public works spokesperson Sydney Opperman said in a statement on Friday that residents had threatened to form a vigilante group if police did not improve security.

The police-patrolled village is home to MPs and certain officials of government departments.

Opperman said police were apparently not carrying out proper follow-ups when cases were reported, and there was little control at the entrance to the compound.

There had been seven break-ins in the complex in February alone, he said.

"Large groups of youngsters stroll around in the compound. Continuing break-ins and vandalism is making residents feel that even worse things could happen to them."

At a meeting between residents and public works department officials on Thursday questions were raised about the reliability of some of the officials working in the compound's office.

He also claimed that employees from the nearby Grand West Casino were living inside Acacia Park.

"There is further no proper audit of exactly who is living where in the compound. Some of the residents swap homes without informing the main office, while other people are sub-letting their homes."

Opperman said he would recommend to Parliament's portfolio committee on public works that it investigate the deteriorating conditions at the village.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Stella Sigcau said last month residents owed the government more than R329 000 in rental arrears as at December 31, 2000.

A total of 192 MPs and 319 officials were allocated units in the Acacia Park complex, she said in reply to parliamentary question.

Sigcau was unable to say how many people were living there illegally, saying only one occupancy audit was done in May 1998. - Sapa

- SAPA