City calls on Umbilo residents to keep park clean

SPOKESPERSON for the eThekwini Municipality, Msawakhe Mayisela has urged residents to be keep their area clean. This follows reports of litter and illegal dumping at an Umbilo public park on the corner of Ray Keyte Place and Sphiwe Zuma Avenue.

A new outdoor gym installed at the park has drawn residents to a park. While the gym has sparked positive reactions in the community, park maintenance and litter concerns have cropped up as well. Glemore resident, Thabile Bock was working out on Monday, August 23 when the Berea Mail visited the gym.

“I am so happy about this gym. I go there everyday from Monday to Friday. I remember when I first saw an outdoor gym in Glenwood and wished there was one near where I live. There is a lot of litter around, which concerns me. There needs to be more refuse bins available, but there also need to awareness about keeping the park clean, so people use the bins,” she said.

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Last week Ward 33 Councillor Mmabatho Tembe told the Berea Mail that litter in the park had tarnished the new outdoor gym that was installed at the park.

“My biggest disappointment is the irregular cleaning of this park and I hope that now, because the park has people in it, it will be cleaned regularly,” added Tembe.

However, spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality, Msawakhe Mayisela says it is up to residents to keep their area clean.

“Maintenance will continue as per schedule. This is adequate. We ask that residents become ambassadors of the City by adopting these spaces and keeping the space clean by not littering or vandalising the equipment,” he said.

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“There are new bins that will be installed in this financial year, however the challenge that we keep facing is that residents take out their household waste and dump it in the park bins. Again, we call upon residents of the City to do better. The City cannot work alone. We require the support of our residents,” added Mayisela.

He said illegal dumping is an ongoing problem in the area. Those dumping illegally face fines of up to R5000.

“Illegal dumping is a continuous challenge within eThekwini Municipality. More so at this park as residents of Kenneth Gardens also use the park to dump. Our Durban Cleansing and Solid Waste conducts educational campaigns but, we rely on the compliance and support of our residents.

“We call upon everyone to keep the City clean and report illegal dumping to the ward councillor or Parks Department on 031 322 4000. The City fines all those found dumping illegally, fines can go up to R5 000,” he said.