Newlands East residents are calling on eThekwini Municipality to clean and maintain what they say are ‘filthy and disgusting’ toilets at Thrasher Park.
The residents claim that the toilets have not been maintained for over a year and they are now in a deteriorating state. Community activist and resident of Newlands East, Lawrence Palmer said the issue of unmaintained public toilets at the park generates health concerns for the women and children using them. “The toilet often has a foul odour due to the accumulation of particles all over the surface. People contract bacteria and viruses which has made them sick, because these toilets have been left unmaintained for a long time. The toilet area has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The bad state of our public toilets are driving many people away from taking part in our community safety projects that we hold monthly at the park. This issue is also affecting the relationship and partnership between the community and municipality due to neglect and failure to attend to the complaint. All attempts to report our concerns have been in vain,” said Palmer.
Ward 11 Councillor, Graeme Clarivette said he has brought this issue up with the manager at the parks department who informed him that the architecture department will appoint a company to repair the broken pipe. “However, there has been no movement on the issue. I have escalated it to the deputy head of the department to resolve the issue,” he said. Palmer said the staff, including the security who guard the park are working under extremely poor conditions. “As soon as the valve is open to fill the water in the toilet system and not switched off on time, the toilets inside and outside gets flooded because of the burst pipe. When we as residents book to use the park we are made to pay for the use of the park under these poor conditions and the municipality’s water and sanitation department refuse to fix the damaged pipe,” he said. Another resident, Anne Eaton said: “Residents need to use the toilet when they are in the park, as not everyone stays nearby. Women and children are exposed to infections as the toilets are not operational. There is an unbearable stench coming from the toilets. How much longer are we supposed to live with this kind of uncaring attitude from the municipality? I guarantee that if this was the so called ‘white area’, this problem would never happen. This just shows the attitude and carelessness by the parks department. EThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said the relevant department is investigating the matter.
