Glenwood’s ‘lost city’ residents cry foul

ELDERLY residents at Lantern Heath, Umbilo have heightened fears over the hygienic state of their flats and surrounding areas amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Angelique Stephens, a pensioner who lives in the block of flats, took the Berea Mail on a tour of the place, exclaiming that it was a health hazard for old people and children.

“We do not feel like we are a part of Glenwood because you don’t see places like this there and streets that are not cleaned for months on end,” she said.

The fencing surrounding the flats was knocked down by a taxi last year and has still not been repaired, instead the rickety fence has allowed vagrants access into the flats, posing a danger to the residents.

Another issue residents have raised concerns the lane that connects Suffolk Road to Umbilo Road.

The lane has been closed for years because it is used as a rubbish dump.

“The vagrants have stacked up the trash so it is easier for them to climb on top of it and jump over to our line station where they steal clothes from the washing lines,” said Stephens.

“Rats about the size of my head come out from this area,” said Jabu Dlamini, an elderly resident living on Suffolk Road.

ALSO READ: Service delivery lacking in lower Glenwood, say residents

Berea Mail has previously reported on the issues in the lane, dating back to 2017. At the time, Councillor Mmabatho Tembe said she had contacted the Parks and Land Use Management department to clear up the rubbish.

“I have a lot of grandchildren who like playing around here. Who knows what kind of germs or viruses they are contracting from here and bringing back home,” said Dlamini, adding that one of her grandchildren had to be taken to a clinic for a check-up after developing flu-like symptoms.

Resident John Stephens, referred to this part of lower Glenwood as the “lost city.”

“I call it the lost city because everyone has forgotten that we live in the bottom of this mess,” he said.

John said he had taken coronavirus posters from the Berea Mail and stuck them up around the flats to try and raise awareness about the virus.

“We have many pensioners living here with no masks, gloves or any sanitary products. You must remember these flats were given to us by the government because we are poor people and we need assistance. We now need that assistance more than ever,” he said.

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