EDITOR – I refer to the letter in the Sun last week headlined ‘Recycle to save Toti‘.
I agree with the writer’s comments and know many of our residents are appalled and saddened by the state of the old CBD.
Last year eThekweni Municipality spent vast sums of money improving Durban beachfront and areas to the north. In an email to them, which was also published in the Saturday Independent, I questioned why the southern areas, in particular Toti, were excluded. Needless to say there was no response.
From my enquiries regarding the CBD, I understand most of the buildings are privately owned so their maintenance is not the responsibility of the municipality. However there are laws regarding minimum standards, health issues and so on – so why are these laws not enforced? Why do people collecting their pensions have to wait in queues miles long, all over the pavements, in all sorts of weather? Surely better arrangements could be made?
It’s usually only the schools and same handful of folk who make any effort.
However, where are all our residents when WESSA, Toti Conservancy, Army Saints, Lions and other organisations arrange clean-ups of the CBD and beachfront? The response, year after year during National Clean-Up Week is actually pathetic. It’s usually only the schools and same handful of folk who make any effort.
Our councillor, Andre Beetge, invited residents to attend a weekend workshop last year, arranged by eThekweni Municipality. At the last minute it was cancelled because of poor management by the powers-that-be but suffice to say that only three people turned up for that workshop.
Regardless of the effort put in by Cllr Beetge, Sapphire Tourism and beach management over the Christmas season, our beaches were an absolute eyesore every morning. Isn’t it time that litterbugs, visitors and locals, are heavily fined?
Next time our councillors invite the public to meetings concerning the state of our town or clean-ups are arranged, let’s all be there.
COLLEEN GILL
