Trash talk: Highway’s councillors call out inaction
The eThekwini Municipality has been called on to enforce its bylaws and to install more bins across the Pinetown CBD.
TWO local councillors have called on the eThekwini Municipality and Durban Solid Waste to help clean up Pinetown.
They said they had repeatedly escalated the need for extra bins and extra workers to remove the refuse around Lahee Park and Pinetown to the senior management of DSW and the Parks Department.
“It should also be noted that Pinetown is a busy transport hub, through which thousands of commuters move every day. These commuters unfortunately do not seem to regard littering as a problem and as such the city authorities must step up education programmes and enforcement of littering bylaws,” said Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth.
One of the primary concerns is a lack of sufficient bins in and around Pinetown and, to date, her requests have been ignored.
“DSW must be given the budget to hire extra workers and move without delay to remove the refuse. The Department of Public Works could also assign additional EPWP workers to educate commuters and also clear litter. Metro Police must also enforce the bylaws and start fining those commuters who litter with abandon in the Pinetown CBD,” said Brauteseth.
A long term lease was signed with developers to transform Lahee Park into a world class sports facility.
“We are hopeful that when this development is complete, much of the litter problem around the swimming pool will be resolved,” said Brauteseth.
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Low blows for High Street
Despite the eThekwini Municipality’s promise to have an area officer ‘immediately’ investigate the illegal dumping along High Street in New Germany, as reported in the Highway Mail on week ending 4 September, the problem has only worsened.
“The municipality, especially DSW, not acting and providing services ratepayers pay for is nothing new in eThekwini. I personally sent an email, with a follow up email and Councillor Melanie Brauteseth did the same. The same was reported on the DSW WhatsApp group for councillors,” said DA PR Ward councillor, Riona Gokool.
The next best solution to remove the litter, according to Gokool, was for the community to rally together and host a once-off clean-up.
“Without any communication from DSW, it is difficult to put an action plan together.
“The entire municipality looks like this. Only in areas where there are UIP’s, and where residents get together, are neighbourhoods clean and well looked after. It is clear that the municipality has failed in it’s mandate,” said Gokool.
She noted that the Democratic Alliance has been fighting for a clean up and overhaul of the Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit department.
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