Briardene residents are up in arms over pit toilets that were installed without their consent by the PR councillor for the ANC, Thandi Mabaso, claiming that the toilets may cause a health hazard.
The residents demand that the six toilets that were installed last week will have to be removed because not only are the toilets demeaning, but their children will fall into these pit toilets. A frustrated resident, Don Shange, questioned how the municipality installed these toilets while failing to maintain existing sewer spillage. “We have a sewer on Krishna Road that has been leaking for quite some time, which even the mayor is aware of. I remember when I posted about the sewer on social media the city requested more information which I gladly supplied. The unattended sewer is now even damaging the road. So how are they going to maintain these pit toilets if they are still failing to fix these sewer pipes which have been leaking for some time now.”
One of the property owners in the area, Nellie Somers, said the toilets are unacceptable. “I was called by my tenants informing me that there were people outside my house who were busy building pit toilets right in front of my entrance. I then called the ward councillor to find out what was going on only to find out that she had no clue about it.” Ward 36 councillor Shontel de Boer said despite opposition to the project, the ANC branch chair Grant Coka for Ward 36 insisted that the project will continue. De Boer claimed that Coka threatened her if she tried to stop the project. “I was lied to by the ANC when they cleared the land. I was told they are clearing the land to plant a veggie garden. Next thing pit toilets are popping up without any consultation. This started two weeks ago. In this day and age when we should be doing away with pit toilets they are taking our people backwards and in the highest rate-paying area. What about the dignity of the people. How does the ANC think this is a good thing,” she said. “According to the Project manager this is a pilot project that came about as a result of the ANC branch chair’s complaints about blocked sewers and refuse collection. The premier and the mayor need to come see what’s happening in Briadene.
“The ANC doesn’t care about the dignity nor the safety and environment of the people in Briardene. What is irritating is that these toilet will only be cleared after two years. When the flies and bad odour start to hit Braidene, who will be responsible in clearing that. When the children start falling into these toilets who will be responsible?” asked De Boer. DA’s MPL for Human Settlements in KZN, Martin Meyer, said the party was overlooked in this project. “The city have to acknowledge de Boer as the ward councillor and cannot do things in her ward without her consent. When you go behind people like that, I immediately suspect that there’s something fishy. There is something that is happening that shouldn’t be happening or there is money that is not being spent the right way.” Meyer said the next step is to put a formal complaint to the MEC. “I will forward a complaint to the province which will take seven to 14 days to answer.” Ward 36 PR councillor, Thandi Mabaso, told The Durban North News that she was assigned by the city to initiate the project. “I also have a right to do what will assist the livelihood of the community as the PR councillor. I don’t have to answer or consult with de Boer,” said Mabaso. The municipality was not available for comment at the time of going to print.
