City urged to resolve water leak near former orphanage

NEIGHBOURS living near the former AL-Noor Child and Youth Care Centre for orphans in Woodstock, where operations were shut more than five years ago after the Department of Social Development removed 17 children from its care, said their pleas to the City to fix a burst pipe have fallen on deaf ears.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

This week the Cape Argus established that the property belongs to the City’s Human Settlements division, after claims that it was under the Western Cape Government.

Irate residents said they had reported the burst pipe to authorities for years and shared videos of streams of water gushing down the street.

One resident, who asked to be identified as Sandor, said he and his fellow neighbours had made numerous calls and complaints to the City about the alarming amount of water.

“Every time there is a lot of rain, the pressure seems to increase and there seems to be a burst pipe underground,” he said.

“This used to be the old bowling club and then it became an orphanage, which was closed down.

“As far as we understand, someone is supposed to be looking after the premises but there are squatters.