Marburg residents raise concerns
Concerned residents contacted the Herald regarding the conditions in which the elderly were made to wait.
The issue of illegal dumping – including household rubbish and sometimes dead animals – has been going on for years, especially in Marburg.
And according to residents of the town, it seems there have been no long-term solutions put in place to correct these pressing issues.
A frustrated Marburg resident called the Herald to complain about overgrown municipal land behind their residence.
This land, which has not been maintained, is now being used as a dumpsite by others in the area.
With the amount of rotten food that has accumulated, it has become infested with monkeys and rats.
Additionally, residents have complained about the unbearable stench, especially after it has rained.
Due to the overgrowth on the site, snakes are a problem.
It has reached the point where snakes are being found in the resident’s home, which is particularly unsafe considering there are small children who live there as well.
According to the resident, they reported the issue in August after which there was one visitation from the Department of Health.
However, no further correspondence was received nor were any improvements made to the area since.
Ward councillor Ajith Rajaram said that he was aware of the complaint and upheld his responsibility by communicating the issue to the responsible departments.
He reiterated that illegal dumping is a huge problem in Marburg and the surrounding areas.
In his proposal to RNM, Cllr Rajaram listed practical means of dealing with these vacant council owned lots.
He also explained that health inspectors need to be more concerned, stern and must start acting immediately.
“The relevant departments need to start sorting these issues out. Health inspectors should be more active and must play their part. Charge residents with illegal dumping. The municipality should have education drives and people in charge must report back so that solutions can be found and the issues can be resolved,” he said.
Meanwhile, elderly residents gathered at the Marburg clinic to collect their medication last Friday – in the rain.
Concerned residents contacted the Herald regarding the conditions in which the elderly were made to wait.
Residents raised further concern that no social distancing protocols were being followed.
On that Friday morning, it was raining reasonably heavily in Marburg.
According to one of the people waiting at the clinic, when people sought shelter under the municipal building next door to the clinic, they were told to move and that they were not allowed to stand there.
Concerned residents explained that people should extend some sort of understanding towards the elderly, especially considering that most of them had been waiting in line for close to five hours at that point.
Cllr Rajaram arrived some time later and, after liaising with people inside the municipal building, those waiting in line were then allowed to use the shelter.
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