By Lungani Zungu
A vacant four-roomed house at Umlazi G section in the south of Durban has been hijacked by hoodlums who terrorise the community.
The people in the area have endured taunts from the thugs for more than five years.
Things escalated in June last year when the thugs allegedly sexually harassed a seven-year-old girl returning from the nearby Inkongozelo Primary School.
Choking back her tears, the mother of the young girl told Scrolla.Africa she was still traumatised by what happened to her daughter.
“They were standing outside that house of hell and showed my daughter their manhoods,” said the mother, who can’t be named to protect the identity of her daughter.
A taxi driver is said to have noticed what was happening and rushed to the young girl’s defence.
“I am just grateful they did not rape my child,” the mother said.
“We have been complaining about these thugs to the local community leaders for many years, but nothing has happened.”
The mother said she tried to open a case but was allegedly told by police that there was not sufficient evidence to support her allegation.
Ever since the ordeal she makes sure that her daughter is accompanied by someone when she goes to school and when she comes back.
Two months later in August, the thugs tried a different trick.
They tried to lure a 10-year-old girl, who cannot be named, by telling her she was beautiful and that they would give her sweets once she was inside the house.
She did not take the bait and told her mother what had happened.
Instead of opening a rape case the girl’s single mother relocated to Isipingo — fearing that the thugs would target her if she opened a case.
Scrolla.Africa visited the “house of hell” on Thursday, but found nobody.
Inside the rooms were used condoms and leftovers of smoked weed and blankets. There are no windows and no electricity or water.
“Our lives are in danger because this house is always packed with thugs. Some are from the area, and others are not from here.” said a resident, Msizi Thabethe.
Thabethe said the house has been vacant since the owner died in 2017.
He said the path near the house is a no-go area in the evening as the thugs are always mugging people.
Ward councillor Khumbulani Cele said he would visit the house and ensure that the thugs were chased out.
He also said he would track down the owners.
Local police, who are not authorised to talk to the media, said they would work with a community policing forum in the area to arrest the thugs.
Pictured above: The vacant house in Umlazi G section that is now used by thugs who are terrorising the community
Image source: Lungani Zungu
