Amanzimtoti beach picnic area ‘neglected by cleaners’

LOCAL residents were infuriated after passing the Amanzimtoti picnic area along Beach Road in early January, to find it strewn with litter and those with the task of cleaning it preoccupied.

The couple question why the city employs workers if they’re incapable of executing the most basic of tasks they’re assigned.

Henk and Lana van Kleef were at a loss for words when they passed the Toti picnic area on Thursday, 4 January. The couple work nearby and pass the public space daily. While understanding that hordes of beachgoers flock to the area at this time of year, this spot appeared to have been neglected by the many municipal workers.

“The truck passed at 8.30am to collect rubbish bags I assume, but litter was still strewn all over the park,” said Lana.

“The cleaning staff arrived shortly afterwards and promptly started on their cell phones, having 45 minute tea breaks, the first one starting at 9am, and continuing throughout the day. To add insult to injury, two of the workers used the park next to Rusoord as an ablution facility.

Tourists and holidaymakers arriving at the park or walking past couldn’t believe the sight before them.”

This is not the first or last time the Van Kleefs laid their eyes on this spectacle in the public park. The couple questioned if this method of work is perhaps permitted, as too often residents come across such sights throughout town.

Cllr Andre Beetge identified at least four different groups of municipal employees from photos the couple took and sent to the Sun. Each group is responsible for different tasks within the boundary of the park or its immediate surrounds.

“During peak season, departments stagger their shifts, with Durban Solid Waste and beach cleaning facilitating a night shift to ensure certain areas are clean by morning,” explained Cllr Beetge.

“Others start their shift at 6am, thus leaving home anywhere from 4.30am with public transport, and then normal dayshift starts at 7am. Additional shifts are accommodated on public holidays and over weekends to ensure areas are cleaner earlier in the day.”

This could be the reason for workers taking their breaks earlier than what most 8am to 4pm workplaces do.

“Cleaning of public open spaces along Beach Road traditionally starts from Pipeline south to the Amanzimtoti River and then towards inland open spaces which continues throughout the day,” he explained.

“Tea or lunch breaks are often not taken at what some would consider reasonable times, as movement from one area to another is dictated by volumes. Further to which, additional or extended breaks are implemented during periods of excessive heat and supervisors inform the collection trucks via cellphones when they are ready to move to the next area, following which they then wait for collection.”

Cllr Beetge agreed that the use of the park as an open air toilet was not acceptable and while the information has since been passed on to the relevant department, more could have been done to rectify the matter if it was reported to authorities at the time of its occurrence, as opposed to after the fact.

“Could I recommend that we appreciate the hard work done by the majority as opposed to judging all by the mistakes of a few individuals?” reasoned Cllr Beetge.

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