Marloth park residents up in arms over service delivery
"They eventually responded after I had posted for help on Facebook. The poor creature was eventually shot in our lapa."
MARLOTH PARK – Residents have time and time again witnessed the lack of service delivery from the local municipality.
Recent events have demonstrated a total lack of interest in assisting municipal rangers with wildlife issues and the maintenance of the park.
A kudu cow was spotted with a snare around her neck in March, but was only attended to by a vet in April. Other incidents included that of a woman who overturned her vehicle on Olifant Road when she tried to avoid a bush pig, and a zebra being killed by a drunk biker on the same road.
Corridor Gazette questioned the municipality about the lack of law enforcement in the park but according to it, it was happy with the visability of local traffic officers.
A dump site has also become a contentious issue as the burning of rubbish in a bushy area creates a risk for wildfires.
DA leader Mr Danisa Maphanga expressed his concerns, “Residents complain that the municipality is, instead of moving the rubbish to the right place, unlawful burning it at the dumping site which is against environmental laws. Further illegal burning could lead to legal steps being taken against it.”
Mr Cyril Ripinga, municipal spokesman, informed Corridor Gazette that the dump site had been there for years and rubbish was hardly ever burned at the site. “If trash is burned the necessary precautions are made to contain the fire to protect the area but this almost never occurs. The site is for dumping only.
“The incident of the kudu is a great pity and we as the municipality deeply apologise. We would like to thank the people who paid for the vet and for their commitment to their public. I was informed that we owed the vet R34 000 but this has been settled today. We were not aware of the situation but we encourage the public to inform us via the 24-hour municipal help line,” he encouraged.
Community members have expressed their views concerning the current state of affairs. Ms Lorinda Steenkamp, a member of the Marloth Park Owners Association said, “Unlawful dumping, unmaintained water pumps, the complete lack of law enforcement, and a long list of other problems are part of our daily lives. But to allow animals to suffer does not only boil down to a lack of service delivery, it is criminal.”
A resident shared one of his experiences in the park with Corridor Gazette but requested to remain anonymous. He explained, “I cannot recall the exact dates but I reported a bushbuck female with a very sore leg to the rangers. I was certain it had been snared. The wound was infested with ticks.
“Initially I was told not to worry as ‘wild animals are able to deal with ticks’. The leg became worse and I called again. This time I was told to apply ‘purple spray’. A week later she was barely able to walk. By now the wound was septic and I called the rangers again. They eventually responded after I had posted for help on Facebook. The poor creature was eventually shot in our lapa.
“It was such a waste in my opinion, as the animal could have been saved. Where is our municipality when we need it? My question is, are our Marloth rangers trained at all to help these animals?”
Nkomazi municipal help line: 013-790-0990.
