The Democratic Alliance in Nelson Mandela Bay will be increasing the pressure on authorities to address the scourge of derelict buildings across the Metro that it says become havens for criminals.
The party said on Thursday that it would submit a motion to the Council and also write to the SAPS to ensure that the matter of "problem buildings" is urgently addressed.
Provincial leader, Andrew Whitfield, Ward 5 councillor Terri Stander, and other party members conducted oversight inspections in Central in Gqeberha, where they said the problem of highjacked buildings is so out of control that the area now resembles a war zone.
"The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, which owns many of these buildings, has done very little to address a crisis that is impacting the health and safety of residents and decimating the tourism potential of the city.
"It has also become abundantly clear that the police has no concrete plan in place to target the rampant crime that occurs at the problem and hijacked buildings," said Whitfield.
He also said that these derelict buildings have become a haven for criminals who deal drugs and attack and rob residents and tourists.
Whitfield said the Metro has failed to enforce its problem-building bylaws despite a task team being set up to do this.
He called for accountability for this "travesty".
The DA's NMB caucus leader, Retief Odendaal, will also be taking several actions to address this matter.
These include tabling a motion to Council to "ramp up action taken regarding problem buildings and to provide the Council with regular progress reports made".
Other actions that he will take include putting " pressure" on the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (PHRA) to fast-track applications for demolition/rectification of buildings older than 60 years and offering rates relief for problem or hijacked buildings to make it financially viable for property owners to reclaim buildings, among others.
"The DA has a plan to rescue Nelson Mandela Bay from criminals, and we will hold the municipality and the police accountable to ensure that citizens are no longer held to ransom by criminal elements," said Odendaal.
