NMB Deputy Mayor commends demolition of crime den building

Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality Deputy Mayor, Gary van Niekerk, has described the demolition of a hijacked building and crime hotspot at 35 Clyde Street, Central, as a major step towards addressing problem buildings.

Once a quaint, historic building, the hijacked building had become a den for crime, where illicit activities thrived in the dilapidated structure.

The door to the murky world was firmly shut when Stu Davidson Plant Hire and Demolition started their work on Friday morning (29 November).

Van Niekerk was alerted to the criminal activities at 35 Clyde Street during a visit to a closed-circuit television (CCTV) control room of a private security company in November last year when he was mayor.

According to Van Niekerk, a memorandum was signed to fast-track the demolition of the eyesore that used to be a historic gem occupied by the Community Chest, a non-profit organisation in the welfare sector.

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