THIS building in KwaNyuswa, outside Durban, is a nightmare for residents.
They want eThekwini Municipality to take over the building and use it for something else.
Residents said the building was meant to be a hospice, but the owner has disappeared and it is now used by thugs.
Simphiwe Xaba (52) said a woman and her husband arrived in the area in 2007 and started building the hospice.
“But they left after it was finished,” he said.
Former councillor Joseph Mchunu said the woman had approached him with the idea of building the hospice.
“But when the building was completed, the woman disappeared. I tried to contact her, but with no success.”
Councillor Mtheleleni Sibisi said he has been trying to contact the owner since early last year.
“It’s impossible to locate her. I’ve decided to consult the municipality for assistance.”
Tozi Mthethwa, a spokeswoman for the municipality, said: “This is private property. The municipality doesn’t have the power to act in the absence of an official letter, preferably endorsed by the court, asking for the City to intervene. ”
She said the relevant department has been asked to investigate.
