Residents’ concerns: Is infrastructure lacking in ‘student town’?

WHILE crime-fighting measures have yielded positive results in Manor Gardens, number-plate recognition cameras have revealed statistics that highlight concerns over infrastructure shortfalls in the area. With the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus spanning from Glenwood to Manor Gardens, infrastructure catering to students is among the concerns.

According to Janus Horn, deputy chairperson of Mayville Community Policing Forum Sector 1, a staggering 25 000 vehicles passed through the residential roads of Manor Gardens last week.

“On Friday, we had 25 000 individual licence plates picked up in one day. We have seven automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, which are linked to a software company with a database to check for stolen vehicles. The cameras record every vehicle that comes past, and this reveals the statistics per day, week and month. The roads are busy. The camera outside Sicas Guest House recorded about 72 000 vehicles over nine days,” said Horn.

With an influx of students moving to the area each year, Horn has questioned the capacity of the current infrastructure.

“The area was built 50-odd years ago. The infrastructure was built to accommodate four to five people per household. Now, some student houses have 20 people per household. Our sewage and electricity infrastructure is not geared for that; neither are our roads,” said Horn.

According to Horn, several roads have been zoned for student accommodation, including Bank Terrace, Dale Road, and sections of Malcolm Road and Queen Elizabeth Avenue.

“There are no supermarkets or restaurants in this area. There aren’t even pavements for students to walk on. Streetlights are being fixed, however, foliage needs to be trimmed where it is blocking streetlights. Our biggest concern is where students walk up Queen Elizabeth Avenue. There are no sidewalks, and it’s completely overgrown,” said Horn.

Steve Jones, a Bank Terrace resident, echoed these concerns.

“If the area is going to be used by students, it has to have suitable sidewalks and lighting. If you look at the neighbourhoods at night, it’s dark. There is overgrown vegetation on Mazisi Kunene Road and no sidewalks. The area was set up for people who have cars – it’s not set up well for pedestrians – imagine a student walking around,” said Jones.

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Jones added that the university fence along Bank Terrace was frequently vandalised with students using a hole in the fence as a thoroughfare.

“Bank Terrace is only about 0.5km long – it’s not that far to walk from the university’s Gate 2, but it’s dark to walk at night. There are students living in residencies in Umbilo and Glenwood, but it doesn’t feel like a university town,” said Jones.

He called for the university to consider installing a turn-style gate in the fence to address the issue.

UKZN’s executive director for Corporate Relations, Normah Zondo, confirmed that the fence on Bank Terrace was vandalised.

“Regular patrols by Risk Management Services are conducted, however, the culprits remain unknown. The university has an access gate around the corner. There are no guarantees that a security gate (installed) at the fence will not be vandalised. We are looking into a more permanent solution to the problem,” said Zondo.

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A lack of amenities

Adding to concerns around infrastructure are noise and litter concerns.

“There is a tuckshop on Archer Road which attracts loads of students, and there is a lot of litter. There is no regard for anybody’s property, ” said Sue Jacobs, deputy chairperson for the Manor Gardens Ratepayers Association.

“That is the only tuckshop in the area. I think it would help if there was a formal shop with a takeaway in the area. People need to eat, and currently, students have to order food to be delivered,” added Horn.

Delivery personnel have also fallen prey to crime in the area.
“The delivery driver arrives with the food, and suspects rob him of the food as well as his cellphone and any money he has on him. The delivery driver arrives thinking he is delivering food to a house, and criminals are standing outside on the road, waiting,” Horn said.

eThekwini Municipality was not available for comment at the time of going to press.