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PE Express Newspaper
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WEDNESDAY June 5, 2013 |0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | peexpress.mobi | www.peexpress.co.za
EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
CRECHE: NEXT DOOR BUILDING A SAFETY HAZARD
Children demand safety
Children from Freda Jabkow itz Educare protested peacefully about the dilapi dated building next to their school. From left are Tershan ne Plaatjies (5), Mercedes Thomas (4), Shajee’ah Burgins (4), Chloë Rockman (5), Taariq Markam (4), Mickyle Ferguson (4) and JamieLee Whitebooi (5). PHOTO: ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL
ZELDRÉ SWANEPOEL
W
HILE widespread violent protests gripped the Nelson Mandela Bay last week, an educare centre took the total opposite stance about a matter close to it - a silent protest, but with a clear message. The Freda Jabkowitz Educare centre is the oldest creche in Port Elizabeth, and has offered its services to children in the Schauderville/Korsten area for the past 64 years. The school, which falls under the auspices of PE Childline, is situated next to an old uninhabited building in Thornton Road.
This building is an eyesore which has become dilapidated and a hive of illegal activity, said the educare supervisor, René Naidoo. “This building used to be a post office, but it fell into disuse and has been terribly neglected. The problem of vandalism and illegal activities in and around the building is just getting worse. “There are shady characters coming in and out of there and we are worried about the safety of our children and staff,” Naidoo explained. With the PE Express’s visit to the site, two persons were seen openly using drugs next to the building. They left when the staff and chil-
dren started their protest with banners carrying the message that they have the right to a safe environment. According to Ward 11 DA councillor Isaac Adams, he has been suggesting since 2007 that the building be used as a youth centre or given to a well-established NGO. “This was a beautiful building which we as the Metro should have treasured. During the latter part of 2007/early 2008, this building started being vandalized and I raised this with a Mr Rod Carradice from the Metro who stated that this building belongs to the Parks Department. I was sent from pillar to post and eventually, when I became more familiar with ‘who’s
who in the zoo’, I took up this matter with Corporate Services and still nothing has been done,” said Adams. Adams pointed out his concerns and suggestions in a letter addressed to the city manager this week. He expressed his hopes that there would be a speedy solution to the problem. “Whenever I received a complaint about how vandals/vagrants are carrying away bit by bit and also using this facility as a drug den and all sorts of other illegal issues, I would also contact the police for their intervention. I myself cannot arrest these unsavoury characters and neither can I clean up/demolish this building.”
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