LETTERS: Open Letter to the DA in Ballito

As reported on previous occasions by the Courier, the residents and ratepayers of Avondale are at their wits’ end because of the semi-complete and derelict house on the corners of Avondale Road/Joshua Close, also known as the “Ruins of Avondale”, and the KwaDukuza Municipality’s failure and/or refusal to do anything about it.
Repeated letters to KDM (copies of which had been given to the DA’s Colin Marsh who helped deliver them to KDM) since August 2014 have largely been ignored, except for a single deceitful comment by KDM’s Mr Xulu made in the Courier of February 5, 2015.
The problem is that this structure has been standing like this since 2003 (yes it has been in that state for 13 years now!) and is home to vagrants who stay in a makeshift shack on the property. Where their daily effluent goes is anyone’s guess as there is no water and sewerage supply to the property.
The house is a breeding ground for vermin and is adorned with lewd graffiti. The floors of the house are strewn with hypodermic needles, bottles and used condoms. It presents a health and safety risk to the children playing in the area and to all the residents in the surrounds. Most concerning is the fact that we often have break-ins in and around this area and there is a strong suspicion that criminals use the property as a base from which to monitor the comings and goings of residents.
As mentioned, the DA’s Colin Marsh, the elected representative of ward 6 (now ward 21), has been involved from the onset – while the municipality’s apathy on this matter and its outright deceit of the residents and ratepayers of Ballito is a source of great frustration. The apathy of the DA is even more alarming. I for one, as a loyal voting DA supporter in Ward 21 (old Ward 6) for many years, can no longer accept that there is nothing that can be done. I have spoken to Colin Marsh on many occasions – his usual response is to throw his hands in the air and to say that the officials at the municipality do not know what they are doing.
Is it not the job of our elected representatives – Colin Marsh and the DA – to make sure that they understand what they – the officials of the municipality – should be doing and force them to do it? What has Colin Marsh done to date, ie what remedies has he considered in terms of the Municipal Systems Act to bring his authority as official opposition and ward councillor to bear in the municipality. Has he done ANYTHING except deliver the letters to the municipal officials and drink tea with them?
I, and I am sure many other Ballito voters, are waiting with baited breath to hear from our honourable ward councillor in this respect – I am also sure it will provide plenty of food for thought for us come the August municipal elections.
RIAAN VERSTER
Avondale Residents Association