DESPITE two contracts being awarded for the installation of gabions and an alleged investigation into the illegal dumping, High Street in New Germany remains an area of contention.
After a water pipe burst, followed by heavy rains, pre-lockdown, a section of road along High Street washed away.
Concrete water pipes were broken and the underside of the road was left exposed.
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The eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit repaired and replaced a section of piping and gabions were assembled at the site, by an unknown contractor, in an attempt to reinforce the bank.
The Highway Mail first highlighted the situation of the split and sagging gabions to the eThekwini Municipality on 28 August this year.
Three weeks ago the gabions were stripped and replaced.
During an on-site visit with the DA PR ward councillor Riona Gokool, she noted the area around the gabions was still a safety hazard.
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“I am no engineer, but the workmanship still appears very shoddy. It appears there is no supervision happening on site, no plans from which the contractors are working from and no specific details have been provided as to what will happen on site to rectify this situation,” said Gokool.
The councillor highlighted that the rock from the previous gabions were used to create a ‘foundation’ and this was being supported by tree branches, old planks and remnants of the previously burst pipe.
“My questions regarding who the previous contractor was and whether or not they will be held liable, the cost of re-doing the work and from which line item the money was coming from, have not been answered. I am trying my level best to ensure the work does not continue until the current issues are corrected. This municipality cannot afford to waste like this,” she said.
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“All residents are asking is for the services they pay for to be delivered. To have work done which is up to standard and to have their neighbourhood restored to its once pristine condition.
“This is not a small area or a small issue, it is totally unacceptable that this is happening for the second time. If the municipality continues on this trajectory, more money will be spent on fixing problems than on new projects and infrastructure,” said Gokool.
Trash talk
A few metres up the road, Gokool pointed out that the illegal dumping situation only worsened.
In August this year the eThekwini Municipality promised to ensure an area officer would be dispatched to investigate the copious amounts of illegal dumping along the stretch of road and that a monitoring plan, that involved all stakeholders, would be established.
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“We will explore all avenues that can mitigate such illegal dumps in the future,” said the eThekwini Municipality’s spokesman, Msawakhe Mayisela, in a statement issued on 31 August 2020.
Gokool said, “When councillors report illegal dumping we are told to educate the public. DSW does not have any innovative ways to curb illegal dumping. Unfortunately, putting up skips in hotspots is something DSW says they cannot agree to. Right now, the only solution I can offer the community to take action themselves. Let’s do a once off clean-up and become more pro-active in ensuring our community is kept clean.”
If you are witness to illegal dumping, take down the registration of the vehicle or the address of the person dumping and report it to DSW immediately on 031 311 8804.
The eThekwini Municipality did not respond to comment for either of the issues.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
