RESIDENTS living in the flats at number 10 Bellavista Road are sharing their plight of living in the “forgotten environment” with the community in hope that the unhealthy sewage conditions will be dealt with.
The residents claim they have been living with the same environmental problem for over three years and that when they report problems it takes forever to be attended to.
These residents said they are tired of being ignored and promised solutions by people who come and have a look at their constantly blocked drains and then promise to call someone to come and help.
A resident who wishes to remain anonymous wrote: “We have been reporting and complaining about it for months. There is sewage water flowing and blocked drains running. I have stomach problems and think it is because of the conditions here”.
According to a frustrated resident, Don Jasmith (69), the blocked drains are not the only problem in the area. “There used to be a skit bin at the back of Bundu Court, it was stolen and never replaced. Now people just dump refuse all over the place. There is a community creche within this complex yet there is always a blocked drain running. There is an old tree behind the flat and it needs to be cut professionally because it is starting to bend and it could fall onto people or vehicles. I reported the tree but I was told we would have to pay for it. We were told the same thing with the skit bin.”
Ward 56 DA Clr Rashieda Landis explained that residents should not think that she is not concerned. “It is very sad that people must live under this conditions. This is a health and safety risk. I asked the health department to visit the place and they did. I forwarded the residents’ complaints to the MMC of Housing, Dan Bovu, asking him for a way forward. I received a call from his department and they said they will escalate the matter to the department’s authorities.”
On September 3, during follow up questions regarding the progress of the complaints, Clr Rashieda said: “The cleaning contract ended three months ago. I raised the question on numerous occasions but the response is always, ‘we are waiting for new budgets’. The contractors are reluctant to give quotations because they want guarantees that they will get the job. How do we operate with people in this fashion? The money is available but there is nobody taking responsibility”.
*The COURIER will publish a follow up with the MMC of Housing, Dan Bovu, in our next edition.
