Residents fed up with dirty stream

SCENERY Park residents are fed up with a polluted stream which flows through parts of the township.

Residents said the stream was dirty, riddled with reptiles and had bushy areas along the banks that were used by criminals.

Those living closest to it complained that the stream sometimes flooded and flowed into the streets and their houses.

Resident Noxolo Gantsa said they were constantly worried about their health and safety in the area.

“We don’t feel safe anymore. Just last weekend, gardeners found four snakes in my yard.”

Gantsa’s neighbour, Mavis Lamati, who has been living in the area for nearly 20 years, said the stream was a huge worry.

“Our lives here are hell. It’s worse when it rains and the river overflows. Our houses always have water inside.”

Lamati said a leguaan crawled into her yard last month.

“I was outside drawing water from a tap when I saw a large figure on the ground. It was a leguaan.

“I started hitting it with rocks and it turned and crawled back into the river.”

Residents said their pleas to have the stream cleaned and a wall to keep the water away had been in vain.

“We contacted our ward councillor last year May and he promised to seek help for us. Then in July he told me he wrote an email to the municipality and was still waiting for them to respond. It’s been quiet since then.”

Scenery Park ward councillor Zandisile Tokwe said he was waiting for BCM to provide a long-term solution.

“We clean the river, but this is costly and isn’t helping. I’m waiting for BCM, as they are the ones who have to give a clear plan.”

BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi had not responded to questions at the time of writing.