URGENT intervention has been requested to address dumping outside the municipality’s Kenneth Gardens Housing Estate following complaints by residents and ward councillor, Mmabatho Tembe.
A resident at Kenneth Gardens raised the issue with Berea Mail, saying something had to be done as a matter of urgency to clear the now permanent dumping ground outside Alberta Court in Sphiwe Zuma Avenue.
“It seems to have become a dumping site for people passing by to just dispose of their dirt bags, other refuse items and rotting food. It all gets left outside our building. Children playing outside are going to get hurt or sick from all the filth. There is an enormous number of flies now and we can’t even open our windows because of this. Is this not a health hazard? Why is this allowed? And how long are we going to be forced to live like this?” she asked.
The resident, who has lived at the estate for the past 24 years, said truckloads of rubbish bags are thrown on the pavement every week.
Visiting the site on Monday, Tembe was shocked by what she saw outside the block as well as further south along the road. She said while the dumping was an ongoing issue, but it did eventually get cleared.
“I have increasingly told the Housing Department that something needs to be done about the excessive dumping outside Kenneth Gardens and some way forward needs to happen. It smells terrible, and there are flies and maggots on the rubbish as it sits for a period of time before being collected. It is a complete health hazard,” she said, adding that she had requested DSW Education speak to residents on how to properly dispose of their waste.
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“I have requested DSW to clear the site and that Environmental Health assist with cleaning, as it is very unhygienic and needs some chemical spray to clear,” she said.
In response to queries by Tembe, Fumana Gangatele, Property Manager of Rental (Central) at eThekwini Municipality/Human Settlements and Infrastructure, said: “Unfortunately this is always experienced during this time, most families have got visitors and this forces us to clear the bins on a daily basis. We are trying by all means to keep the property clean and hygienic. We will appreciate the assistance from other departments in collecting the refuse.”
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