OPERATION Good Hope, which aims to address service delivery concerns and keep the city clean, was rolled out on the Bluff on Tuesday, October 26.
The operation is a directive instituted by eThekwini’s mayor. It is run by the South Durban Basin Area Based Management Unit (SDB ABM), in partnership with various departments and stakeholders.
These include the Parks Department, eThekwini Transport Authority, Metro Police, and Durban Solid Waste (DSW). The purpose of the interdepartmental approach is to improve the socio-economic and infrastructural conditions of the whole of eThekwini Municipality.
The Bluff was one of the last few wards in the city to receive this programme and it was held for one day.
Voicing their discrepancies with the various line departments as well as service delivery issues on the Bluff, were representatives from Bluff Ratepayers Association, ward 66 office, the Bluff Community Policing Forum, the ANC ward 66 committee and community leaders.
Issues included traffic violations, lack of police presence, illegal dumping, faulty streetlights, deteriorating infrastructure, damage incurred from fibre installations, unmaintained parks and public facilities.
Anitha Govender of the SDB ABM assured the group that issues would be escalated accordingly.
She also urged all the departments to work together in following up and resolving issues. “As part of the campaign, we attended to the street lighting in all the affected roads. The bus shelters that were damaged are being repaired.
“The ETA department, responsible for the bus shelters, has ordered the material for the shelters. The Water and Sanitation Department also attended to the overflowing sewer in Charlmalan Road. Parks Department cut and pruned the trees and bushes at Greys Inn Park. We had many complaints about unsavoury activities taking place at the park due to the overgrown bushes and trees. Lastly, Roads Department has given the assurance that all the roads issues that were presented to them will be sorted out.”
