Residents along OD Sokhulu Road in ward 5 in Gamalakhe recently met, to discuss concerns over a portable toilet hiring businesses stationed between their homes.
The residents said they are tired of the terrible stench and flies, which has forced them to close their doors and windows at all times.
Andisiwe Mbanjwa who lives next door to the site said she has complained to the ward councillor Phumlani Gumbi, the owner, and the environmental health department.
She said the owner was asked to move the toilets in March as it is a health hazard, and to date has not budged.
“My house is clean and I use the best detergents, but the flies just won’t go away,” said Mbanjwa.
She has stopped bottle feeding her one-year-old child as she feels that flies could land on the bottle, leaving behind germs which will make him ill.
A neighbour said her concern is the building constructed in front of the toilets which is now a safety hazard, as criminals are using it as a hideout. “We are scared to walk past it in the daytime. Boys are smoking drugs and others consume alcohol there. It’s unsafe for women and children,” she added.
According to the residents, the business owner is allegedly well connected to Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and is also related to Cllr Gumbi, and that is the reason he is not taking them seriously.
Cllr Gumbi did not deny being related to the owner and said that he allowed the business to operate on the property, next to Mbanjwa’s home.
“I received a complaint, I approached the owner and advised him to move the toilets, and he said he would. After speaking to him again, he told me that he would be moving the business to Newcastle and needed time” said Gumbi.
He clarified that being related to the owner did not mean he will not push him to move the toilets.
A representative of the company who did not want to be named, said she was aware of the complaints, however denied being given notice.
“The environmental health officer said she would inform us whether the law allows us to use a site between houses, however she did not come back to us. On her initial inspection she found the site clean, with no flies or stench,” the representative added.
She said that they use a dumping site in Marburg for the waste and clean the toilets there as well.
“As a resolution we have sold some of the toilets and will move them by the end of December. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality was contacted for comment, however none was recieved at the time of going to press.
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