Anger over owner of polluting ‘salvage yard’ ignoring a high court order
SEVERAL residents in Clare Road are upset at having a “salvage yard” near their homes.
They claim a neighbour runs an illegal business from his yard. Heavy vehicles, buses and old cars are parked inside the yard alongside piles of building debris.
Despite having to deal with excessive noise and pollution, they say rubbish also constantly blows through their front gardens.
They claim the municipality has failed to address their complaints, which date back to 2012. Although the Durban High Court has ordered the owner of the property, Deonarain Rishi, to stop using it for the parking of trucks, residents say nothing has changed.
“It’s an incredible nuisance,” said Byron Wiley, who lives across the street. “This should not be here.”
The site has been visited by an environmental specialist, and the city’s fire and emergency services department.
In an e-mail trail, in which City Watch was copied, the environmentalist advised officials that the yard was hazardous and the owner had to remove all the vehicles.
ethekwini senior technical planner Bridget Kerr said the municipality’s legal section had instructed attorneys to write to the owner to comply with the terms of the court order, failing which the terms would be enforced.
A resident who asked not to be named said they were losing hope in getting the matter resolved, after a five-year fight. “We reported the matter to the municipality and environmental officers visited the place, but the owner is stubborn about stopping his business and he blatantly disregards the court order.
“While that may be unsightly, it’s the threat to the kids who have to walk on the road because the buses just blocked the pavement.”
Another resident, Mike Repinsky, said: “The area is zoned residential, and the activities out there just don’t work with houses and neighbours, people trying to live their lives next door.“it’s not right. People should be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of their home without worrying about an industrial facility right down the street,” he added.
Ward councillor Haniff Hassan said the matter had been brought to his attention and he had called the metro police to remove the buses and trucks.
“I was not aware of the court order. If the residents have taken that route, it should be easier to stop the owner from doing illegal business.
“There is a school, and sometimes pupils have to put their lives in danger by walking on the road because the trucks occupy the walkway,” he said.
Efforts to reach Rishi for comment were unsuccessful.