Abandoned houses in an important South African town are now a hotspot for criminal activities

The growing number of abandoned and neglected houses in Lephalale has become a hotspot for criminal activities.

This is the warning from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Lephalale, who said that the situation affects community safety and property values in the town.

Lephalale, formerly known as Ellisras, is a major coal-mining and power-generation town in the Limpopo province.

It functions as a critical, high-stakes hub for South Africa’s national energy grid while also serving as a gateway to the Waterberg bushveld.

Lephalale sits atop the Waterberg Coalfield, which contains more than 40% of South Africa’s remaining coal reserves.

The town is also home to the Medupi Power Station, a 4,764 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant.

The Matimba Power Station, the largest direct dry-cooled power plant in the world, is also close to Lephalale.

The town used to be a safe and prosperous place where residents enjoyed a quiet life with the benefits of big industries close by. However, this has changed.

The DA in Lephalale raised concerns about the growing number of abandoned and neglected houses in Lephalale and Onverwacht.

These abandoned and neglected houses have become a haven for illicit activities and criminals evading law enforcement.

Criminals use them as hiding places for stolen goods, including electrical cables, infrastructure components, and other items linked to criminal activities.

Such houses also provide safe havens for vagrants, illicit activities and suspects seeking to evade law enforcement, creating fear and insecurity among residents.

“The presence of abandoned buildings contributes to crime, undermines community safety, and reduces property values,” the DA said.

“Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about suspicious activities taking place in and around these properties.”

The DA called on the municipality, property owners, and law enforcement agencies to work together to identify abandoned houses.

“They should enforce bylaws, secure vacant properties, and ensure regular inspections are conducted,” the party said.