Sew Ramdeen is tired. Tired of cleaning up after neighbours; tired of making calls and writing letters; begging for help and tired of his pleas falling on deaf ears.
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Mr Ramdeen has been living in Seventh Avenue, Forderville, for decades. He’s grown and nurtured his family in this home, but now says that worsening conditions make him wish he was “rich enough to sell up and move”.
His frustrations started years ago when domestic waste from a neighbouring street was being tossed down the embankment and inevitably made its way into his yard.
Mr Ramdeen has been through several channels to address this issue, with former municipal manager Nonhlanhla Njoko visiting his home.
In July 2017, a municipal team cleaned up the area after it was brought to their attention via the Estcourt News. Last week, Mr Ramdeen again invited a reporter to his home in a repeated attempt to get assistance.
“I am tired of picking up the mess every day. When it is windy, it is worse. Why should I be cleaning up after someone else when they pay for refuse removal?” commented a frustrated Mr Ramdeen.
He hopes that municipal authorities step in and enforce the by-laws pertaining to dumping.
“I think that the inspector should issue a warning to the culprits and if nothing is done, they should be fined,” he added.
In addition to the eyesore in the family’s backyard, Mr Ramdeen is concerned about the health hazard the domestic waste poses, especially since he has an 11-year-old grandchild at home. He points to a disposable diaper pack hanging from a tree branch.
“It’s been hanging there for months; I can’t reach it to remove it,” he explains.
Mr Ramdeen’s concerns and suggestions were sent to Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality for a response, but none was received at the time of this post.
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