Flamingo Heights ‘stewing in filth’

A COMMUNITY activist in Flamingo Heights informal settlement in Lansdowne is at loggerheads with community leaders after she took them to task for taking part in the sale of alcohol and drugs.

Pamela Tosh, founder of community outreach organisation Indipam, is now seeking the intervention of ward councillor Mark Kleinschmidt. Tosh said Flamingo Heights was a community imprisoned by its leaders and bottlenecked into a concentration camp environment, and was stewing in filth.

“A disgusting example of what the lives of the poor and underprivileged in Cape Town have become, and why our children are growing up as drug addicts and criminals. Children are exposed to alcohol and drug abuse by their parents, adults living with and around them, addicts and gangsters from surrounding areas, as the settlement is a middle ground for the sale of narcotics like heroin and tik.

“To add fuel to the fire. the community leaders are engaged in underhand activities and the sale of drugs and alcohol.

“The shebeen, which is run by a community leader, is a hindrance to the environment and the welfare of the children especially,” she said.

Tosh who called for the removal of the community leaders, said they were not involved in any outreach programmes, meetings or appeals for food, while elderly residents continued to suffer without enough food and were becoming weak and ill.

“In contrast to what the Department of Social Development is offering – their initiatives, support programmes and counselling – it is evident that without a multilevel approach to various welfare concerns, and the collaboration of community leaders, organisations and authorities, we will not see any improvements here,” she said.

Kleinschmidt, who confirmed having received the invitation, said he would arrange a meeting for next week.

He said his office was providing various resources to assist and would continue to provide additional assistance wherever possible.