A GROUP of volunteers from the Westville Conservancy and Keep Westville Beautiful has taken it upon themselves to resolve the litter issue in the vicinity of the buzzing post office.
Calls for authorities to remove people found loitering around the Westville Post Office emerged last year in December when residents said the area had become an eyesore.
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Now the litter scattered around the Westville Post Office has spurred residents on to clean up the mess.
On Friday, 29 January, the team once again collected bags filled with rubbish from the area around the post office.
Residents who took to social media in December last year said the post office had become a hang out spot for vagrants and drug dealers, others saying they have witnessed numerous drug deals taking place in broad daylight.
At the time what was even more concerning for the residents is that the area has become dangerous especially for the vulnerable school children as the post office is situated in between three schools.
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Peta Jane Storm, who is part of the Westville Conservancy and Keep Westville Beautiful, said during the clean up, they found a huge pile of rotting litter which included bottles, cardboard and various other items.
“Some people are now using it as a dumping area as we also found a TV,” said Storm.
She said the issue of vagrants staying within the post office and littering both inside and outside the post office continues to be an ongoing issue.
“Metro police does try to keep the area safe as we have seen them parked around the area on numerous occasion,” she said.
The Westville resident thanked all the volunteers who helped during the clean-up.
She also advised people to email photos of litter, unkempt verges and untidy pavements to eservices eservices@durban.gov.za and insist on a reference number.
The Highway Mail is awaiting comment from the South African Post Office.