Hey I would like to buy a house I cape town which has been adandon by the owner for years,I have tried speaking to neighbours but they are unhelpful the only information I have is that the owner is currentley living in durban and that the owner has given the house to his ex employers who burnt the house down!any advise as to what I should do or who I should speak to as the owner is living in durban and I'm in cape town

You need to go the registrar of deeds for the area and find out who the listed owner is. You also need to check with the tax collector to see if taxes have been paid.

Then you can determine how to try and put an offer in.