Manenberg residents are fighting each other and the City of Cape Town over the closure of a gangetjie in Irvine Street.
After living in their homes for just over a year, residents decided to close off a gangetjie as they have to duck and dive when rival skollies shoot at each other and hide in the gangetjie.
Resident Vanessa Voegt, 53, whose home is at the centre of the controversy says the neighbours took a joint decision to close the gangetjie to safeguard their properties.
“My house is the main house affected because the gangetjie was right here so we all agreed I can put a vibracrete wall up to protect my windows from the bullets.”
But tempers flared last week when Law Enforcement officers arrived at Voegt’s home and told her she had to remove the illegal building work.
Neighbour Shanaaz Kannemeyer, 41, admits she called Law Enforcement, but says the disagreement was not about the gangetjie.
“I also agreed the gangetjie must be closed because I have bullet holes in my walls, but she built that large structure in front of her house that is blocking the view and we can’t even park our car,” says Kannemeyer.
Ward councillor Bonita Jacobs was called in to resolve the matter.
“I called the officials from the Melon Housing Project to come with the plans,” she says.
“We showed them that they cannot just build on City land and while we understand the safety concerns, the neighbours have built illegal structures into the road which may have to be removed.
“Now we asks them to resolve their issues and get back to us so the City can find a way forward for everyone.”