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REPORT ON SCHUBART PARK COMPLEX BLOCK “D”

14 MAY 2010

OPERATIONAL VISIT

1. INTRODUCTION

We are all aware of the problems that Cot has encountered with the Schubart Park and Kruger Park complex’s in the past and will still encounter in the future.

2. BACKGROUND

It was decided at various meetings and site visits that block “D” of Schubart Park must be closed off immediately to keep vagrants from entering the structure and destroying what was left of the building. Community Safety in collaboration with South African Police and other various departments and divisions within CoT carried out a crime prevention operation within the Schubart Park Complex on 26 January 2010.

The operation was focused on the drug cartels, illegal weapons and other issues identified by TMPS and SAPS. It was decided that all the floors and flats of all 3 occupied blocks A, B and C would be searched and if time allowed block “D” that was supposed empty would also be searched, and as the operation progressed it became evident that there was ample time to search block “D” as well.

SAPS and fire fighters then started with the operation on block “D” when a message was received that there was a fire on the eighth floor. Fire fighters and the SAPS then found that someone had made a fire on the floor of the building, but that the SAPS task team was not going to go ahead and search the upper floors due to the risk involved.

All personnel withdrew immediately and I then decided that Fire Brigade Services should visit the premises during the day to determine the state of the structure.

3. SITUATION

An inspection of the structure, or what is left of the structure was carried out on Friday 14, May 2010, and the following photo’s is evidence of the almost total destruction of the premises that has taken place.

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This not only poses a danger for the fire fighter that is requested to attend to an emergency situation (fire, structural collapse or someone that has fallen down one of the open shafts), but also the paramedic that has to treat an illegal patient in the structure. The following problems were identified;

All fixed fire fighting equipment has been removed and by this I mean everything, including the piping system in the shafts from ground floor to the tanks on the roof.

There is now a limited amount of steel and metal left in the

structure that can still be removed which is on the façade of the structure and the vagrants are now starting to remove this as well. One can see large portions of steel hanging precariously from the structure and this could cost the CoT millions in legal costs if someone is killed or property is damaged in the street.

The steel casing of the shafts for ventilation that were

enclosed by brick have been removed. These holes where the shafts were are 2sqm in area and have been made on at least 10 floors. Meaning that someone can fall through and can fall ten stories.

Solid brick walls and division walls have been broken down

and the rubble is lying in heaps. A building is designed to carry loads in certain areas and it is evident that problems could arise due to the weight of the debris lying in heaps in the middle of floors.

The lift motors, lifting mechanisms and steel cables have

been stolen and the empty lifts are stuck on twentieth floor. This means that these lifts could release and crash to ground floor whilst the vagrants are busy removing metal items inside the lifts. All lift doors have been removed, thus leaving the shafts open on all floors.

The balustrades on both the emergency staircases have

been stolen, thus giving no protection to the fire fighter.

Stairs have been damaged by the vagrants when they removed the lift motor and mechanisms and carried them down the stairs.

Basically all doors, steel and aluminium windows have been

removed.

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There is no water in the structure, thus forcing the illegal tenants to do their thing (human excretion) in plastic bags and discard of them by throwing it out of the window to ground floor.

The tenants prepare food by making fire on the floors

The whole structure is a place for a breeding ground for sicknesses, as the stench is unbearable which is caused by human excretion.

Street people apparently move into the structure during the

night for safety and then move out again before dawn. One can only carry the message forward by using the photos, but one must actually walk through the premises to appreciate the lovely smell/stench that emanates from the structure. This you smell when one walks past the building in the street.

Ground floor C/o Schubart and Proes str

The premises are open on all sides which are an invitation to enter.

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Steel barriers removed and damaged on façade of the structure and can damage vehicle and kill or maim pedestrians with legal

costs involved.

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Health hazard and an ideal place for murder and rape to take place as the area is open to the street

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Counter weights of lifts lying at the bottom of lift shafts due to steel cable theft and this means that the lifts are hanging in

midair.

Steel handrails on both flights of emergency stairs have been removed thus posing a danger to fire fighters.

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Internal walls have been demolished, thus causing the load on the floor to exceed the permissible weight.

Air-conditioning ducting has been removed and the holes in the floors are ten stories and this was removed by breaking down the internal walls.

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One of the vagrants that were in the process of removing copper wire from the structure, whom was not even perturbed by our

presence.

All steel piping, electrical fittings and electrical wiring has been removed

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The following photo’s are of illegal tenants occupying the structure which is on the increase

A flat on one of the floors that has been occupied by illegal tenants

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Another room in the flat

The kitchen

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Another flat on approximately 20th floor that is the process of been occupied seeing that it has been leaned

Another occupied flat

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Fires are made on a daily basis, which only is a fire risk, but also contributes to the weakening of the structural slabs it is an

ongoing process.

This is one of the service ducts where everything has been removed

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Stairs that have been damaged by the vagrants when they removed the lift motors and lifting mechanisms and dragged

them down the stairs.

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All items removed from the lift room such as the motors, switch gear and electrical distribution boards

Total destruction

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The photo below was taken from the lift room on 23rd floor, looking down on the top of the lift that is suspended in midair. The vagrant’s then claim into the lifts to steel the last of the metal inside the lifts, not realising that the lift could break loose and fall an odd 20 floors.

Remember that the fire fighters will have to do the rescue!!!!!!!!!

They are also in the process of steeling the water tanks on the roof, as most of the bolts have been removed and the panels will be carried away piece by piece. The support beams that were supporting the tanks have already been stolen long ago!!!

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The air-conditioning motors have been stolen and it is the

ducting from these plants that have been removed on most of the floors.

Lift shafts that are open on each floor as all the doors have been stolen and this is a photo from 20th floor. Anyone for a bungee

jump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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One of the lifts suspended in midair!!!!!!!

Another lift approximately on 18th floor which has already been

stripped and this done by climbing into the lift suspended in midair.

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Colleagues This structure was supposed to have been closed off long ago, before the total destruction of the building took place, but has now deteriorated to a point that it is going to cost the tax payer (me and you) millions to repair. Funds wasted and as if CoT is financially stable to can afford it. What about the Batho Pele principles???? It seems as if someone is turning a blind eye to the problem. There is no-one as blind as the one that does not want too see!!! Last but not least!!!!!

I am of the opinion that fire fighters will not enter the structure in the event of an emergency due to the dangers that could be encountered and these due to the lack of interest (or just no care attitude) by certain individuals. Please take note that the fire fighters are putting themselves at risk each time they attend to a fire within the Schubart Park complex, as all of the other 3 blocks of flats also have no internal fire fighting hydrants (no water). This means that the ire fighters are forced to draw fire hoses up +- 21 flights of stairs and even then will not get water to the top storey due to pressure problems. So what will happen?

Stairwells will become smoke logged People will jump from the structure trying to escape the

smoke, as was the case in Kruger Park. Evacuees will die trying to escape down the stairs. Fire fighters will die trying to rescue tenants.

Last but not least!!!

The CoT will once again be taken to court with a law suite on their hands.

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Question

Can we stand back and wash our hands in innocents as fire fighters.

Thought for the day

Think before you enter these structures, as it might be your last, but

don’t worry as I will explain to your wives and children that stay behind how brave you were fighting a fire in a building that was actually

condemned by the council, but whom thought it good to keep it open so that you

could gain experience.

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