Briardene community rejects pit toilet project
“In this day and age, pit toilets should not be in existence. We should be moving forward as a community and as a country,” - Don Shange.
INSULTED, offended and degraded are some of the words residents at Briardene Informal Settlement have used to describe how they feel about the eThekwini Municipality installing pit toilets in the area.
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“In this day and age, pit toilets should not be in existence. We should be moving forward as a community and as a country,” Don Shange told Northglen News when they visited the area.
The area comprises informal settlements as well as private property, and many homeowners are also frustrated that the toilets have been installed in front of their family homes.
One of the homeowners, Nelly Somers, who’s family have lived in the area over a period of 100 years, said she was shocked to learn that this project had been given the green light without any consultation.
“There are a number of factors that are wrong with this project. It’s trespassing on private property and causing damage to private property. I don’t want these toilets on my property,” she said.
Shontel de Boer, ward councillor for Briardene was also unaware of this project.
“The money could have been put to better use. The infrastructure is there. It should have been upgraded and flushable toilets should have been installed,” she said. At least 90 toilets are being erected.
The Northglen News has reached out to the eThekwini Municipality for comment.
Read more about the community’s outrage in the next edition of Northglen News.
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