IT has become a common occurrence when it rains that a section of Malacca Road is covered in mounds of sand and mud which makes accessing the road virtually impossible.

The road that leads to the Malacca Road refuse site also borders the Malacca Road Informal Settlement, making it a nightmare for residents.

According to Durban North resident Arianne Hayes-Hill, several vehicles have gotten stuck in the sand.

Also read: Sinkhole swallows section of Glen Anil Street

Hayes-Hill, who runs the non-profit organisation (NPO), The Seed Fund, works with the Malacca Road Informal Settlement community and said that, of late, more sand is flooding the road through holes in the Redhill Cemetery fence.

“Whenever there is a spell of heavy rain, accessing Malacca Road is very difficult. The sand is coming from the green belt around the Redhill Cemetery, and it comes down in bucket loads as there are gaps in the fence that have been damaged. What is happening each time is the municipality gets out a TLB to clear the road, or residents use spades to scoop the sand onto the side of the road.

“When the sand has dried, they are left in piles on the side of the road. We aren’t sure if heavier rains could lead to a mudslide. It doesn’t affect the work we do with the community, but it does affect residents walking on the road and motorists accessing Malacca Road. The mud has also damaged the drainage that leads to the stormwater drain, exacerbating the situation,” she said.

Also read: Durban North residents voice concerns over sewage overflows

Malacca Road Informal Settlement resident Wandile Salukazana said the mud often ends up in their homes.

“I live in the lower section of the settlement where the mud just dirties our homes and messes up the road. Every time it rains, we are scared of being affected by a potential mudslide. We are not sure where exactly the sand is coming from, but something is happening where the sand flows freely down the hill onto the road. We also have to use spades to move the sand when the graders from the municipality aren’t available,” he said.

For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here