FILTH, LITTER AND ALL KINDS OF RUBBISH PLAGUES CERTAIN AREAS OF PHOENIX

 

Certain Durban residential areas, mainly former disadvantaged townships (now still disadvantaged), are being allowed to degenerate and plunge into decay by our new so-called democratic Ethekwini Municipality.

I noticed this shocking state of affairs when I went for a walk through the main roads in the Unit 13,  Unit 15 and J G Champion (Northern) Drive in Phoenix, north of Durban, early today.

I had taken my vehicle to be serviced by a mechanic friend in Unit 15 and decided to walk back home to Ottawa.

Filth, litter and all kinds of rubbish were visible all over the pavements alongside the roads here.

What really depressed me was the litter and rubbish that were thrown alongside the wall outside the A M Moolla Spes Nova School for disabled children; opposite the road near the Lenarea Secondary School; Phoenix Assessment and Therapy Centre; Provincial Rehabilitation Centre and all along the rest of the road.

Three decades ago, the A M Moolla Spes Nova School used to be a pride of place for children affected by all kinds of disadvantages. I am certain that Mr Moolla would be deeply disappointed about the environment in which his essential school finds itself today.

In most cases it seems that pedestrians throw their mineral and liquor bottles, all types of paper bags and other litter without any concern. It’s also a disgrace that local residents throw their rubbish outside the A M Moolla,  Lenera Secondary schools and along the roads.

Residents and the pedestrians also throw their rubbish and litter all along the J G Champion (Northern) Drive.

Many people were also digging into the litter and rubbish to look for bottles and other items that they could sell. One of the unfortunate persons  told me that he had no alternative but to dig into the litter to find something to survive.

"I am unemployed and I have to do something to make a few rans for my family."

I spoke to a resident from Palmview who was on his usual walk along the northern drive road.

“We just voted in the local government elections but it seems the councillors are not doing their work,” he said.

“They should be out there interacting with the people and calling on the municipality to clean up the environment.”

I also spoke to a private security company official who was parked at a site on the northern road near Palmview.

“It’s a terrible situation. People don’t care about throwing their litter on the roads. When we notice people dumping their rubbish we alert the municipal workers,” he said.

I drive through Phoenix on a regular basis and I have noticed that litter, filth and rubbish are a common feature alongside all the main roads.

The local councillors should be ashamed of themselves. It seems they don’t care about the environment as long as their pockets are filled every month.

In so far as the so-called non-racial and democratic municipality is concerned, it seems they don’t care too hoots about the environment in which residents of former disadvantaged areas live in. I believe that all these areas should still be described as disadvantaged areas. Very little or nothing has changed for them.

Some of the municipal officials have a colonial mentality. They only make it their duty to ensure that the advantaged areas are cleaned every day. If you walk into some of these advantaged areas, you would not find the type of filth and rubbish that are found all over disadvantaged areas.

Wake up Ethekwini Municipality! Make it your duty to provide a better service in the disadvantaged areas. After all they gained their freedom 28 years ago and they still pay their rates and taxes. I don’t think residents should continue to put up with the dirty environment in which they find themselves in. ends – subrygovender@gmail.com Jan 19 2022