Isipingo a dump, say residents
RATEPAYERS in Isipingo are fed up with their area being used as a dumping site.
Dharmanand Nowbuth, chairman of the Isipingo Ratepayers’ Association, said residents had lodged numerous complaints with the municipality, but in vain.
Residents recently found a large quantity of adult and baby nappies on a vacant privately owned property.
“We are constantly faced with filth in our community,” Nowbuth said.
“I am sure the owner of the property on Gokul Road does not even know his property is being used as a dumping ground.
“The elected ward councillor has a direct link with eThekwini Municipality officials such as the Health Department to resolve issues expeditiously.”
Nowbuth said the association continuously raised issues of illegal dumping on councilowned property, including land, rivers, streams and the beach.
The association was an affiliate of the South Durban Community Environment Alliance whose fight for a cleaner and healthier environment was well known, he said.
“Council needs to show a greater will and determination in eradicating the problem in Isipingo of illegal dumping, which has become the norm rather than the exception and which impacts negatively on the quality of life of residents.”
He said it took council almost a week recently to remove waste dumped by protesters opposite the Pilgrim Informal Settlement that sealed off the busy Orient Road in Isipingo Rail, preventing residents entry to and from work.
Nerisha Arjun, a resident of Isipingo, said dumping had become a serious problem over the years.
“People do not realise the impact it has on the environment and in our daily lives. It is sad that they do not respect the area they live in.”
Arjun said whether it was dumping on a large scale or just a single sweet wrapper on the sidewalk, people should be fined.
“It all starts from home. People need to teach their kids to use bins and designated areas for their garbage and the best way for them to do this is by using bins themselves. Those people caught dumping should be fined and this will send out a message to other illegal dumpers.”
eThekwini head of communications Tozi Mthethwa said the municipality was investigating the illegal dumping on the property in Gokul Road.
“In the municipality’s efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable city, we urge residents to report illegal dumping and non-collection of refuse to 031 311 8804.”
The ward councillor, Sunil Kalicharan, was not available for comment at the time of going to press.