Residents fed up with dumping eyesore
Illegal dumping at an old demolished home has neighbouring residents in arms as piles of rubbish cause health hazard.
HUNDREDS of bags of household rubbish, building rubble and even a double bed with mattress, illegally dumped at a demolished Umbilo property, has neighbours calling for action.
Alan Tintinger, a resident in Lorraine Avenue is at his wits end after seeing the property across the the road constantly being used as an illegal dumping ground.
“The home was once an old wood and iron home, which was eventually demolished about five years ago, after a lady committed suicide nearly a decade ago. I heard that it was auctioned and someone would be developing the property into a complex. About six to eight months ago a land surveyor checked the land and told me five units would soon be developed. Since then, the steel gate has been stolen and people have been illegally dumping on the property and it is spilling onto the road.”
Tintinger said he had noticed cars stop across his driveway and dump bags of rubbish in the property before quickly driving off. “It ranges from regular rubbish to old kitchen cupboards, and rubble making the rubbish pile higher and higher,” he said.
He received no joy from DSW after they ascertained the dumping had occurred on private property. “They told me to find out who the owner is. Surely they would be able to find the records of who is paying rates for it? ” he said, disillusioned.
Tintinger is joined by neighbouring residents and dog walkers who daily pass the property. “Sometimes hobos sleep there and look through the rubbish,” said student Lelo Martin who also lives close to the property. “It is completely gross and disgusting. Just last week I saw a couple using it to have sex!”
Ward councillor, Nicole Graham, said illegal dumping was a huge problem across the ward but advised residents to collect evidence for the Department of Health (DoH) to issue a spot fine to a specific individual and pursue the matter. “Basically, people must try to get photos of the dumping taking place, not just of the rubbish, or be able to affirm via an affidavit that they have seen people dumping,” she said.
Graham encouraged residents to email her at: ward33@ethekwini.org with evidence and information so that offenders could be dealt with. “By working with residents and officials from DSW and the DoH, we can start to curb this horrible new trend and keep our community clean,” she said.
