EDITOR – Your article on the upheavals caused by the closure of the Wyebank dumpsite to upper Highway residents has a simple solution, allow, once again, the burning of dry garden refuse on certain days of the week (or just a Saturday morning), weather permitting.
Before climate change activists (CCAs) begin hyperventilating about CO2 emissions, permit me to remind them that the motoring emissions from
every household travelling to and from ever-more distant (and ever-dwindling) landfill sites will far outweigh those of the occasional domestic bonfire.
Since CCAs will always be more vocal than the silent majority I can see the suggestion is doomed – unless, perhaps, we implement an example of our
much-vaunted democracy and call for a local vote on the matter. Although, living in a land where the results of elections may as well be announced prior to voting, you may simply consider disregarding current by-laws.
I’m able to cite an example proving that by-laws are now rather optional and non-obligatory; since 2012 I’ve been trying to force the eThekweni Municipality to remedy a matter whereby a neighbouring security estate has carried out illegal earthworks, damaging my property.
Even the public protector has failed to be of assistance. I’m told my option is to take the matter to court.
So, I’m to take the municipality to court in order to force the municipality to enforce the municipality’s own by-laws. You couldn’t make this up, could you? Only in Africa. Got a match?
Harry Stottle
Kloof
