Neglected Musgrave walkways breed safety hazards
Musgrave residents bemoan the state of two walkways that have become an eyesore, health hazard, and a safety concern.
TWO walkways connecting Musgrave Road and Stephan Dlamini Road have become an eyesore and a safety threat for residents. The homeless have sought to make the walkways their night abode, leaving behind stacks of their belongings and the stench of human waste.
Residing in the nearby block of flats are Elsa Kreie and Mohamed Saib. They are at their wits’ end with complaints sent to the City of eThekwini being ignored. They said they do not understand why the Durban Solid Waste teams were not paying attention to the years-old problem.
Having lived in the vicinity since 2003, Kreie said the situation has not always been this bad. However, over the years, the pathways deteriorated.
“The walkways have been becoming a dumping spot, filth is piling, and the smell of urine reeks closer to our homes. This is not only a safety issue for passers-by, but a health one too. Additionally, the walkways are overgrown, posing a rat infestation.”
Saib shared that it is not safe to approach the homeless or try to remove them, for they “get resistant and violent”.
The frustrated residents are pleading with the City to clean up the area at least twice a week. “The pathways might as well be closed, if we are gonna be experiencing this sort of urban decay. We are fighting a battle on our own, as all we are asking for is to live in a clean city.”
The City responds
“eThekwini Municipality remains committed to addressing concerns regarding the walkways at 303 Musgrave Road, which connect Essenwood and Musgrave Roads. To demonstrate this commitment, the site has been placed on a weekly cleaning schedule, with cleaning conducted every Thursday by municipal teams.
“The walkways were continuously cleaned and washed as part of this routine until recently. However, there has been a temporary delay due to repeated contamination from human waste being deposited at the site. Although the area is cleaned and washed regularly, conditions deteriorate again within a short period. This situation presents a health and safety risk to both municipal staff and members of the public.
“The Municipality has engaged Health and Safety Officers to assess the site and determine the necessary measures required to safely continue with cleaning operations. An update will be provided once the assessment has been completed.”
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