Cape Flats area left in filth

I’VE BEEN writing letters to the Argus for years and talked about disorders on the Cape Flats, but my pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

A City councillor told me he dare not raise his voice on what he sees, as he has been threatened. The vigilance of city officials is zilch. The following issues are experienced daily:

Vagrants squat in doorways of businesses nightly. The Gatesville post office pavement looks like war-torn Syria.

Illegal fruit vendors operate without the proper structures as required by building regulations. No health control. They discard all the rotten products and packaging on pavements.

They contravene a municipal by-law of encroachment of pavements with illegal structures. Regular businesses all over the Western Cape have to pay the City of Cape Town a levy for such contravention. Why do these hawkers carry on as they wish?

Traffic officials overlook the encroachment of driving surfaces by fruit vendors whose pavement businesses spill over on to the road, and who have no access to toilets or water.

There is loose-standing signage which does not comply with the City authorities and can cause major damage with the heavy southeaster gusts.

Foreign nationals sell hundreds of pirated movies.

Jaywalking against traffic intersection signals. Illegal crossing of pedestrians on unmarked roadways.

Fish vendors without clean water, no waste bins, no toilets, some causing a stench in adjoining residential areas.

Illegal “car guards” with no knowledge of parking procedures.

Disabled beggars on crutches and wheelchairs are to be found at every traffic intersection, a danger for themselves and also motorists.

Food vendors trade with several 9kg and 14kg gas cannisters on site without fire blankets or extinguishers. No water, no toilets, no waste bins. All the above is a health danger to the community and an insult to shoppers and residents of the Cape Flats.

There should be law enforcement officers to uphold law and order and not while away their time, sitting in patrol vehicles under some tree.

This would not be tolerated in areas such as Sea Point, Welgemoed or Gardens. The local district councillors need a wake-up call. They have to work for the people, or get out.