No changes for Martindale resident constantly choked by spray painting fumes

The Toodi Family are looking for a way to end the constant thick and toxic spray paint fumes that fill their home due to the panel beating activities taking place in a neighbour’s property.

Since moving into the house in 2018, Sally-Ann Toodi and her family have struggled to enjoy their rights to an environmentally safe residential area due to the ongoing spray painting. According to Toodi the spray painting activities take place all week and they often wake up to the smell lingering in the house, suggesting that spray painting is also taking place in the evenings. She expressed, “I am tired of returning home from work and being met by fumes causing me terrible headaches and chest pains. I don’t know how my aged father must feel, especially having recovered from Covid-19 and a severe lung infection.” Having missed work and experienced other health complications related to the spray painting, Toodi is urgently and desperately hoping for it to end.

Shante, daughter of Sally-Ann, moved in last year and since her return she is constantly having to deal with the thick fumes which fill the house. She explained, “The smell is so strong in the house that you would think you’re standing outside. It makes us all nauseous and we struggle to breathe, but it doesn’t look like anyone cares.” Toodi added that the previous tenant who stayed on the property had complained about the same issue. The Northcliff Melville Times has seen various communication from Toodi to the City where she raised the issue and pleaded for an update, but she says she has stopped receiving feedback. She added, “We can live with the loud noises and banging of fixing cars, but this is unacceptable. We can’t breathe and nothing is being done about it.”

In August 2019 Johannesburg Metro Police impounded the compressor being used for the spray-painting on the property, but since then nothing has changed even after involving the ward councillor and the City. Toodi has lost faith in her ward councillor and the City for failing to inform her of the progress of her complaints and obvious violation of her health rights. Ward 86 councillor Phillip Kruger confirmed that he was consulted about the complaint back in March 2020 but also agreed that to date the situation remains the same. He explained, “The officials in the relevant departments need to enforce the by-laws and policies in the city, as they have been aware of this issue for about 7 months.” He stated that activities such as commercial spray painting in a residential area are not allowed without special consent from the City, which the property does not have.

The City of Johannesburg has been contacted for an update on the matter. One was not available by the time of going to print. This is a developing story.