EASTRIDGE locals held a trio of protests outside the house where a man was recently hacked to death, demanding action from authorities.

People’s Post recently reported on the murder of the 26-year-old man, who died after sustaining numerous stab wounds (“Murder mayhem in M'Plain,” 31 January) at a house in Leadwood Street.

It is believed an argument preceded the attack, for which four men have been arrested.

Three appeared in court yesterday (Monday, 13 February) for their formal bail application.

The fourth is a minor who is currently in a place of safety.

The suspects were released on R1000 bail each.

People’s Post was contacted by various residents, who voiced their outrage at the brutal slaying, with many claiming the house is a haven for criminals where stolen goods are stored and drug addicts smoke and abuse drugs. Many residents wanted the house to be vacated.

The murder has left locals shocked, including resident Tasleemah Ockards, who claims to have witnessed the incident.

She tells People’s Post that the young man never stood a chance against his attackers.

Ockards, who lives opposite the house, recalls seeing her son and a group of men running towards the house, while the owner of the house shouted hysterically.

“I immediately went into the house, as I knew trouble was about to happen. As I pulled my son out through the door, I saw the 26-year-old man being stabbed. As I stepped back another person who had also been stabbed ran past me,” Ockards says.

She tried to stop the incident by screaming for the neighbours to call the police as “they were about to kill the young man”.

She watched in horror as one of the accused allegedly pulled out a meat cleaver and stabbed the victim in the head.

“He tried to fight but he was too weak. He tried to get up. He looked at me and then he was given a fatal blow that sent blood spattering everywhere. Then he fell on the floor,” she claims.

“The whole incident has affected my health; I can’t eat or sleep and every time I close my eyes the whole incident plays back in my mind like a movie that won’t end.”

Ockards claims that she has been warned to withdraw from the case, but will not even consider this.

Ward councillor Solomon Philander says he is aware of the “problem house”.

“Following the incident last week, I contacted the Mayco member of housing enquiring what could be done from the City of Cape Town’s side.

“It was discovered that the house is not part of the city’s rental stock, but rather that the owner is still paying back the loan on the house to the city. The City can’t intervene as the property doesn’t belong to it,” says Philander.

He added that he would be meeting with the residents to discuss and find a solution to the problem. “The police need to be more active in their operations at that house and put pressure on the owners to stop the activities,” he says.

Mitchell’s Plain Police spokesperson Constable Jerome Voegt says the house is “not a known drug outlet”.

“There have been complaints that the house is a lekkerhuisie, where drug addicts come and do drugs. No raids have been conducted at the house previously. However, in light of the recent complaints the police will be doing regular patrols in the vacinity and the house will be monitored,” says Voegt.

He added that residents should address these complaints to their sector commander, Captain Sydney Hoogbaard. He can be contacted on (021)3701600.

Michael Jacobs, cluster chairperson of the CPF, comments: “The community needs to put pressure on the owners of the house and start a street committee instead of addressing the issue individually. The street committee can work with the safety structures and subforum to address these issues. This way the problem can be addressed in an manner where something can be done to assist the community.”

He added that all actions and protests needed to be within the framework of the law.

People’s Post was unable to gain comment from the owner of the house at the time of going to print.