The property in the centre of Cape Towns at number 55 and 53 Kuyper Street is one of many others that a group of Zimbabwean farmers want?to seize as compensation claim for farms lost under President Robert Mugabes controversial land reforms.
South African television ETV reported that the city had taken over the?house and is renovating it at a cost of R 300 000, funds the council expects to recover from the Zimbabwean government failure of which the property will?be put under the hammer.?
A city official told the television station that the property had become inhabitable and was way out of the citys standards. He said they had initially thought of destroying it but?opted to renovate and make it fit for habitation.
The building, which has been vandalised since the consulate closed in 2006, is still listed on the internet as a functioning consulate.? Media reports say the property which is still owned by the Zimbabwean government still has to pay the municipality outstanding rates amounting to R25 000.?
The property is said to have lost its roof sheeting, window panes, and taps while parts of the floor are covered in faeces.?
An official at the Zimbabwe embassy to South Africa said the matter was going to be discussed by high authorities in Harare.?
However an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Radio VOP last Wednesday that they were yet to get a report of the takeover of the building by the council.?
We dont have that case but in some such cases we wait for a report from our Embassy in Pretoria before taking action, said the official in a terse response.
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