Clairwood informal settlement sanitation an issue 20 years on
The purpose of the oversight forms part of Sewshanker’s unconditional determination and goal for the year, to restore Clairwood back to its former glory.
THE hustle and bustle of people coming and going, wooden and corrugated iron shacks, the overflowing sewage, and one working tap paint a clear picture of the state of the informal settlement in Sirdar Road, Clairwood.
It is these dire living conditions that prompted ward 32 PR councillor, Sharmaine Sewshanker, to conduct an oversight visit to the area with the DA Safety, Emergency and Security Committee on Friday, 31 January.
The purpose of the oversight forms part of Sewshanker’s unconditional determination and goal for the year, to restore Clairwood back to its former glory.
“By bringing the committee to the area, I am hoping that my pleas to better the living circumstances of these people will be escalated to higher powers in municipality and the government.”
“The way these residents are living and the lack of facilities has become a violation of their basic human rights. The ablution facilities placed by the municipality that are there, are either locked or do not work. Someone from the city is supposed to ensure the upkeep of these facilities but there is none of that here.
“Somebody is being paid to do a job that they are not doing. This is a big issue in itself that needs to be looked into. This informal community of about 200 to 300 people has been here for over 20 years and the municipality needs to address these issues.”
“It is not right that these people use the nearby bush to relieve themselves. Service delivery is just non-existent in this area,” said Sewshanker.
A resident known to the SUN explained that she has to clean and maintain the toilets herself because municipality workers that used to do so no longer come to the area.
Water sources and government-provided facilities found at the premises of this settlement have been locked or the flow of water stopped for months and therefore remain useless to the community.
Sewshanker maintains that the municipality has failed the community of Clairwood by not providing them with the basic service delivery that they require to lead a decent life.
Interim DA Leader, John Steenhusien, who was also part of the oversight said: “We’ve got an administration that is not caring about the people but instead is obsessing about itself. This community is suffering and seems to have been forgotten. They have been denied the basic dignity of toilets, sanitation and access to water which is unacceptable.”
Comments from eThekwini Municipality were unavailable at the time of publication.
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Clairwood residents endure month-long sewage dilemma
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