New sanitation chambers to benefit community
Local councillor welcomes the completion of the sanitation infrastructure project in Briardene Informal Settlement.
AN upsurge in protests last week has highlighted, not for the first time, the lack of service delivery for the country’s poorest communities. One of the major talking points has been the lack of basic amenities, such as toilet facilities and access to water. With this in mind Durban North ward councillor, Dean Macpherson, has welcomed the completion of the sanitation infrastructure project in Briardene Informal Settlement.
Known as Communal Ablution Blocks or CABs, the modified shipping containers come complete with two showers with doors for privacy, two flush toilets with doors. They also have two hand basins and four basins for washing clothes on the outside and have a separate men’s and women’s quarters.
Northglen News spoke to some of the residents last week who said the new addition will benefit them immensely. Armindo Bernando said the sanitation chamber, once complete would be a welcomed addition. “Before we had to use long drops and it was not safe for the young children and people, especially at night. This project has made it easier for me to wash my clothes,” he said.
A contractor who was on site overseeing the connection of the new pipework to the municipal sewerage and water systems expected the project to be fully completed in two weeks. “The settlement’s old water line was in an appalling condition. It was over 50 years old and the galvanised pipe was rotting away. We’ve also laid a new sewer line. The sanitation chambers will be manned by a chosen representative to clean and manage the sanitation chamber,” he said.
Councillor Macpherson said he had received many complaints about the lack of sanitation services in the area and after a visit to meet with residents, promised them that something would be done to make their lives easier.
“This project was run in conjunction with the eThekwini Water and Sanitation, and the residents are extremely happy about the new project. I believe that in the last 12 months, we have seen a turn around in the Briardene area due to my insistence that officials treat this area as a priority.
“We have seen street lighting erected, upgrades in electricity and now this sanitation programme. This is testament to the commitment that I believe with a bit of hard work, an area like Briardene can be made better,” Macpherson said.
