Mounting truck problems in south Durban
A STEERING community aimed at finding solutions to the increasing numbers of trucks operating in residential areas in the Durban south precinct has been formed.
Last Wednesday, residents from areas, including Clairwood, the Bluff, Merebank, Montclair, Chatsworth, Sea View and Wentworth gathered at the Clairwood Tamil Institute to address their concerns with the environmental justice organisation, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA).
They said they were fed up with the noise and air pollution, but more especially the mushrooming trucking operations which could result in the residential living being wiped out.
Shanice Firmin, an environmental project officer at the SDCEA, who deals with development, infrastructure, and climate change said the steering committee comprised 13 leaders from each area.
“They are concerned by the accidents these trucks cause on the roads and businesses encroaching onto residential properties and ultimately disintegrating the fabric of society. The committee has been tasked to come up with solutions to deal will trucking in their respective areas, which has resulted in their properties being devalued.”
She said the residents were hesitant to approach the truck owners for fear of being victimised.
The president of the Clairwood Ratepayers and Residents Association Rishi Singh said the rights of residents have been compromised.
“As each day goes by, we lose residential ground. Our health is deteriorating with the fumes of the trucks, our ears ring with the sound of heavy machinery and our sleep is broken at odd parts of the morning as the trucks start up.
“Because the area is so truck infested, the value of our properties is going down. When people sell, truck owners buy the property, request to rezone it for logistics, which is not fair. We are still a community.”
He said that what was happening in Clairwood was no better than living conditions under apartheid.
“The apartheid government used a slum clearance act. They came to our wood and iron homes and said that our wood borders were not conducive and we could not renovate the homes so it was marked and demolished.
“Their idea was to demolish this community but we didn’t go. Now the trucking companies are encroaching on the area. They’re not saying leave, but are setting up shop and making it unbearable for us resulting in people being forced to move.”
Sea View resident Verushka Memdutt said: “The trucks push us off the road and we are scared to let our kids walk on the road in case they get knocked.”
She added that some truck drivers dangerously mounted the curbs while taking a wide turn.
Memdutt said she had complained to truck owners in her area but they were apologetic and blamed their employees.
“I am afraid this area will soon end up like Clairwood.”
A truck owner from Sea View said while he understood the community’s concerns, his business did not interfere with any of the residents or residential areas.
Logan Naiker, who owns Logan Freight, said his trucks only travelled to the port and back. “We don’t do local deliveries. Where we operate, there aren’t residents and my trucks leave Durban and come back after about two weeks. I know Clairwood and Merebank are busy due to the building that’s coming up, but we have no issues on this side.”
The city had not commented at the time of publication.