A ‘breeding ground for criminals’

RESIDENTS in Galeshewe have highlighted that the RC Elliot Hall, which used to render social services to the community, has been transformed into a crime hot spot that most residents avoid. Although millions of rand were spent to renovate the facility, the hall is currently just a derelict skeleton of what it used to be.

A man fell to his death at the building on Monday while he was apparently busy trying to steal metal beams from the roof of the building.

Residents said the incident is just the latest in a slew of criminal incidents at the dilapidated hall.

“This hall used to be used for so many services. There were many older people who used to get their pension money here. The hall was also used as a training and activity centre for the youth. Nowadays, our youth are just loafing in the streets as there is no facility where they can do extracurricular activities. That is a huge loss to the entire area as this facility provided services to the entire Galeshewe,” the residents said.

They added that the “rotten” building has become a haven for criminals.