A growing problem of brothels and unregistered boarding houses has sprung up in the grater Milnerton area.

Ratepayers’ associations from several affected communities, including Summer Greens, Sanddrift, Brooklyn, Ysterplaat and Phoenix, say that their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

According to the Chairperson of the Tijgerhof Residents Association Garron Gsell, housing developers have taken advantage of the City of Cape Town’s densification policy, and are just building flats without adhering to zoning regulations.

While the City has cases against some of these developers, the problem persists.

Gsell says that some residents who have queried whether the building plans of these flats have been approved, have been intimidated with death threats.

And along with the brothels operating in these areas, drugs and other crimes are beginning to grip these communities as well.