Winklespruit Beach left to decay
The litter that is left by the homeless people who sleep in the pre-fab structure has attracted rats which are also thriving in the thick, uncut vegetation next to the parking lot.
ETHEKWINI Municipality does not have funds to cut grass and remove a prefabricated (prefab) container at Winklespruit Beach. The size of a shipping container, the prefab structure has attracted public drinking, open-view drug sales, rats and homeless people who sleep in it.
Josie Dalton and Willie Kühn live a short distance from the beach and say they can no longer stand the decay. Josie has been staying at her place for 21 years and said what is happening at the beach has driven some of her neighbours to sell their homes and move elsewhere.
“Who would want to continue living like this while we are charged so much for rates? A car wash for taxis has opened right here at the beach parking lot, and taxis come and go all day. Cars always come with big containers to fetch water from the ablution block. The list is endless,” said Josie.
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The litter that is left by the homeless people who sleep in the pre-fab structure has attracted rats, which are also thriving in the thick, uncut vegetation next to the parking lot. When the SUN arrived, a homeless man was fast asleep inside, amid the rubbish, and only woke up and staggered out after hearing the click of the camera.
Willie said he remembers when the place was clean and everyone picnicked in a safe environment. “Nothing is left of the braai area, and the area where people used to sit on the grass and enjoy the ocean has been taken over by tall grass. Down the road, where the caravan park used to be, there are informal structures and tents. We want this place to be rehabilitated so that everyone who visits, no matter who they are and where they come from, feels safe,” said Willie.
Ward 97 councillor and member of the eThekwini executive committee, André Beetge, said the pre-fab structure is owned by the municipality, but they don’t have the money to remove it.
“The dustbin budget was supposed to have been tabled in January, but because of political shenanigans, the meeting did not go as planned, so it was tabled at the meeting on February 28. At the moment, there is no petrol for lawnmowers and chainsaws, and no money to move structures from point A to point B,” said Beetge.
He added that the red tape created by government was having a crippling effect as it was hindering processes. He said at the recent meeting, some funds were allocated to have some things done.
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