Latest municipal news in Amanzimtoti

Ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge shares some municipal updates.

Bird park

“Following on our years of complaining, nagging and correspondence substantiated with photographs and visits, the city has eventually allocated funding to replace the parameter fence of the Umdoni Road bird park.” With a budget of R1.7-million, what is left of the precast fence will be removed and replaced with clear view fencing.

“It was truly a bitter-sweet moment when officials and contractors congratulated us on the success of the exercise, knowing that the project had to be handed over to the ward 93 councillor for implementation. We trust that it will receive the attention that it deserves to secure the area in the better interest of our entire community,” said Beetge.

Bluegum

Social media and local community groups have been rive in the last week following a resident alleging that squatters were in process of erecting dwellings and settling on a vacant piece of land between Bluegum, Mopani and Valley roads in Doonside.

A site inspection by Beetge, however, revealed that a residential structure, previously abandoned and subsequently occupied by homeless individuals, was removed prior to lockdown. “Some of these individuals are still roaming the area, although sleeping under the stars as opposed to erecting any dwellings.”

READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti sewage spill leads to major fishkill

With the postings giving rise to speculation, unresearched advice and talk of vigilantism, Beetge cautioned with a word of advice: “While there are indeed footpaths running across the open area that connects various streets, it is not uncommon or isolated to the specific area. There was no evidence found which suggests the start of any informal settlement as speculated and debated by individuals, many of whom are not even resident within the immediate area.

Further to which, the property is privately owned, which means that the municipal land invasion unit will not investigate nor react, as with it being private property, municipal resources will not be applied to clear the property, even if an informal settlement was being established, of which there was no evidence found.

“Instead we traced and informed the owner of the property, who appeared unaware that there were individuals trespassing on his property and advised him of the course of action to both inform them that it was private property, that they were unwelcome and how he should address it within the ambit of the law.

“While we have sympathy for those who claimed that individuals trespassed into neighbouring premises, reality remains that the responsibility rests upon each individual to secure their own premises in the better interest of their own and their families safety.”

READ ALSO: Massive waste of water in Amanzimtoti due to municipality’s apathy

Sidewalks

Residents will note that various sidewalks within the ward are being upgraded, although leading to speculation of wasteful expenditure. There are reasons for this, as sidewalks are annually inspected that includes a scan of the base, crumbling, holes and so on, and where funding is available and footfall so justifies, sections are replaced timely.

This further ties in with the installation of, or routes for other services, as the current replacement of expensive pavers with asphalt, allows for speedy repairs or reinstatement should maintenance or faults occur with below surface services.

Storm water analysis

Residents will soon be observing attention to storm water drains that will result in speculation and an array of questions. A contractor has been identified to do probe analysis of pre-identified sections of the storm water infrastructure to determine whether there are blockages, failures or obstructions prior the start of the rainy season.

Ilanda Wilds

The project, previously debated and with an exclusive focus on eradicating Ilanda Wilds of foreign invaders, is in its fourth week following members of the local community being trained in the identification of such species.

Covid eviction

“Our office remains inundated with enquiries regarding eviction of tenants who are unable to meet their commitments, often as a result of the prevailing Covid-19 regulations that currently has the country gripped in level three lockdown. We have scrutinised the content of the regulations (as amended), consulted the judiciary and debated the content with enforcement structures that include SAPS and Metro Police.”

In essence, section 36 (1) of the level three regulations (as amended) prohibits the eviction of tenants, unless the landlord secures an eviction notice, as per section 36 (2) of the regulation as failing to secure such an eviction notice yet demanding of forcefully evicting a tenant, the landlord would be in contravention of section 48 (2) of the regulations and exposed to either a fine or prison sentence, or both, depending on the means and ways that the eviction is implemented. Such eviction contraventions should be reported to SAPS for further investigation.

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