IT'S no surprise that Durban has been derisively named Dirtbin by out-of-town visitors, says Glenmore resident, Deon Braun. .
Braun, who has long waged a war on litter said nothing limited the ability of the human spirit to shine and grown than ugly, polluted and decaying surroundings.
“The name Dirtbin may not be unfairly bestowed on us. Litter is totally preventable with proper education and sufficient public bins, but Durban Metro seems to be losing the battle – or perhaps it doesn't see it as a priority,” he said, adding that as a resident he wondered who taxpayers were paying to manage the removal of litter in Carrington Heights and Glenmore.
“They do a thoroughly shoddy job of doing it. I've asked this question in Berea Mail twice before and the very short reply from an unnamed spokesperson was that the low volume of traffic along Feilden Drive did not warrant more dustbins.This person obviously has never visited the area, or perhaps thought Google Earth sufficed,” said Braun.
He said anyone who actually visited the area and walked along the road could see the reality on the ground for themselves. In the 4.5km length from the top of Feilden Drive to where Oliver Lea Road intersects with Sarnia Road, there are only two dustbins, within 40m of each other. ” One, on the corner of Feilden and Hutchinson alongside the park, is a converted oil drum without a lid, regularly raided by monkeys who then pull the contents out over the ground around it. The other is so small it quickly fills to overflowing,” he said.
“There are two schools, Glenmore Primary and Brettonwood High School, in this area, and outside the entrances of both of these schools with sizeable learner populations, there are zero dustbins. Why not? I walk and run these streets most days and pick up litter every day along the Glenmore Primary School section. But of course there are no dustbins to place it in – and people who don't feel the same way about keeping Durban beautiful are bound to just use the ground as a dustbin rather than carry that can or bottle to their destination, if there's no place to put it,” he said.
Braun said a No Dumping sign on one of the trees was 'a toothless dog – a joke', as someone has dumped refuse bags there weeks ago and DSW had still not done anything about it.
“It's in plain sight of the road and yet Metro seems to be blind to it. I've cleaned this section several times myself now and enough's enough! Is local government unwilling to listen to us, to use our own rates and tax money to help us keep our streets clean, or is it just
ignorant of a situation that has been reported on many times? What will it take?” he asked.
He encouraged the municipality to do a proper walk-through assessment with officials who could make decisive decisions, install bins, and ensure that they were emptied.
“I'd suggest Durban Metro clean up its act, literally, and start giving value back to its citizens. I don't see the point in paying rates and taxes if they are not ploughed back into our communities. One day, Durban Metro may be shocked into action when the citizens actually paying their dues refuse to contribute another cent until things are done the right way. It's time for some action, and real governance that cares for people on a deep level,” he said.
Local councillor Nicole Graham said she had asked DSW to follow up but had received no response. She said a plan had been devised between herself, DSW officials, as well as members of Glenwood Clean-Up in an attempt to reduce the dumping and littering that has become a real problem in the community.
