Residents of Sheringham Road and Hill Street in Overport say that they are “sick and tired” of a dumpsite that has accumulated over the last three years opposite their homes, which they say is due to an informal settlement that has grown over the last three years.
The problem is further exaggerated by residents who are now using the vacant plot as a dumpsite. As the filth piles, one can clearly see wooden boards, furniture, garden and domestic refuse, among other items on the property, spilling onto the street.
One resident, Tariq Sarkot, who is the property manager of Sheringhill Flats that is situated directly across the dumpsite said that the property has now become a serious health hazard. “Tenants are complaining that they are getting sick. I have prospective tenants who want to move in but because they look at this dumping zone and the smell that comes out from here, they don’t want to move.
“People are using it as a toilet to urinate and to dump their rubbish. They are also using the grounds to do illegal activities like smoke ‘whoonga’, and we see the pipes and stuff all over the place. We have women at home alone, and these people urinate all over the place,” he said.
The problem in the area is further worsened by the sewer which is blocked and overflowing and has been this way since the April 2022 floods. Municipal plumbers have been to the site several times to clear the lines, unsuccessfully. It has been established that the entire line is blocked with debris and refuse. Effluent has been flowing from Sheringham Rd onto Hill St for the last several months resulting in the infestation of rats.
Zarina Reyazuddin has been living at Sheringhill Flats for more than 20 years. She said that in the last three years life has become unbearable for her. “We can’t open our windows upstairs. We can’t get fresh air. There are flies around all the time. We can’t sleep at night because they are all drunk and all they ever do is party. There’s no sleep in this building. They sit in the bucket and then they throw it over and on the road. We are tired of talking. This is now the fourth time that I am talking. We want action,” said Reyazuddin.
Joining the residents who came out to speak to The Weekly Gazette, community activist, Ahmedy Fakroodeen said: “We as the residents and ratepayers of Overport are tired. We have become mentally and physically fatigued by the non-compliance of the eThewkinin Municipality in our area. What you see here is a prime example of our grievances for the last three to four years. Calls have been made to the Municipality by the residents and by Cllr Remona McKenzie, however these calls have been unanswered and have fallen on deaf ears. As a result, this has impacted on safety, and the property valuation in this area has dropped and numerous negative crime elements have filtered into the area. We demand action now,” said Fakroodeen.
Ward 31 Councillor Remona McKenzie said that residents have indicated that they have been addressing these issues with me and the municipality. “I have also been engaging with the municipality. This is a huge health hazard. I have had meetings with the health department, I have not received a response. I have had meetings with DSW to come and do an operation clean-up.
“Unfortunately, they have not come to do the operation clean up yet. They are filling the faeces on the abandoned land and residents can’t open their windows. They are inhaling this smell. There are rats here. And I have pleaded with the municipality, but it is just falling on deaf ears. This is unacceptable. The residents are forced to live in such inhumane conditions, said McKenzie.
Ward 31 PR Councillor Mohammed Ismail said that his team has also been working on the Sheringham Road sewage issue for “several months” now. “There has been a barrage of emails between me and the necessary departments, including iTrump (Inner eThekwini Regenerated and Urban Management Programme) and the City Manager. Either the process to fix this is incredibly slow, or a forgotten nightmare for the City.
“Since June last year, teams have come and gone to clear the clogged sewer line unsuccessfully. At one point cameras were put through the sewer line only to find that one section of the line had collapsed. A major excavation was done, which only helped to repair one section of the blockage. Attempts to clean the sewer line on the Sheringham Rd side were not concluded because of the severe blockage of the line. There needs to be a major excavation here to fix the problem,” said Ismail.
On the issue of the dumping on the vacant property, next to a small informal settlement on the corner of Hope St, Ismail said that he has been in touch with the owner, who had promised to clean it up. “This dialogue has been going on now for the last few months. The landlord has not done anything yet, unfortunately. The matter has been brought to the attention of various departments, who indicated that they will investigate it and issue the necessary fines to the property owner,” he said.
An email was sent to the Municipality for comment but no response was received by the time of going to print.
