uMhlathuze Municipality delegation visits greenbelt ‘dumping zones’
The rubbish uncovered by the delegation was an eye-opener to many
FOLLOWING the uncovering of the poor state of Meerensee’s greenbelts by Meerensee CPF members, ward councillor for the area, Christo Botha, actioned urgent municipal intervention and a delegation to visit the areas in question.
‘Vagrants, homeless people and criminals have invaded some of these areas and made it their home or base from where criminal activities are launched,’ said Botha.
The delegation – consisting of a manager from the municipal security department, managers from CRG Security (contracted to the municipality), the squatter and vagrant control team, senior officials from the municipal waste department led by Zilindile Masango, a representative of the municipal health department and members of the Meerensee CPF – visited four hot spots in and around Meerensee.
PHOTO: Christo Botha
‘It was an eye-opener and at the same time a shocking experience to realise that these areas exist under our very noses,’ said Botha.
One such spot is at the traffic light intersection in Meerensee where five homeless people sleep every night in-between a few bushes next to a wall.
Other areas include an area behind a shopping complex in Meerensee, Alkantstrand where the wood carvers are based, and a spot between the beach road and forest embankment.
‘This particular spot is frequented by vagrants and homeless people, as well as prostitutes entertaining their clients.
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‘All sorts of rubbish, hundreds of used condoms and human faeces cover large parts of the area.
‘The stench and sight is nauseating and is an environmental and health disaster waiting to happen.
‘We drive past these areas on a daily basis, totally oblivious to the existence of the social and environmental ills in our community.’
The delegation then visited a spot on the John Ross Parkway, in the vicinity of the turn-off to the waterfront in-between the two carriageways, where criminals appear to have set up base.
‘From the rubbish left behind and items found, it is clear this is an easy hideaway.
‘I never knew this place existed. Some of the spots visited were so dangerous that we had to be escorted by security guards armed with automatic rifles.’
Botha said for this problem to be addressed, various municipal departments had to work together.
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The municipality immediately sent teams in to clear some of the areas, but this is a short-term solution.
According to CPF member Corrie Pretorius, there are more than 350 homeless people and criminals living in the city’s greenbelts.
