Councillor unpacks issues faced by Clairwood residents

WELL over a month into lockdown, the residents of Clairwood continue to sink to the bottom of the socio-economic relief pool as they remain without the basic necessities during these hard times.
Ward 32 PR councillor, Sharmaine Sewshanker, sheds some light on persistent and new issues within the ward.

Sanitation programme
“The DA has distributed sanitisers to informal dwellers. Craig Ragavaloo, a local businessman, has also taken the initiative to sanitise and blanket sprayed the area around two informal settlements.

Social distancing 
Sewshanker said that people in general have abided to the rules, but it is not easy to comply. “How does a family of four living in a 10 m² informal dwelling survive lockdown? It is virtually impossible. How do parents hold down active children and keep them entertained while adhering to social distancing. It’s simply not practical in some of our areas.
“I found that social distancing was not adhered to at all shopping areas in and around Clairwood.”

Law enforcement
“I have noticed that law enforcement have been very relaxed in Clairwood residential areas. There have been no known incidents of residents being problematic or arrested. However, I have noticed that foreign businesses and the essential services are being closely monitored by SAPS and Metro Police.
“Police presence is very prevalent in the business area, but not in the residential areas. I had several complaints of people partying and socialising from residents, who have had no response even after lodging numerous complaints with Metro Police.”
The Clairwood business community have adhered to the lockdown in general and I have received no reports of any business being forcefully shut down.

Food relief
Sewshanker shared that she has received no support or aid from the government since the start of the lockdown. The provision of food relief for households in need at the informal settlements in Clairwood was made possible through her own personal capacity. Her appeals for sponsors to sustain the preparation and distribution of food fell on deaf ears. “I was not able to supply the growing demand for hot meals and we stopped due to lack of resources and funds. I made several appeals to the local business community for assistance, but my efforts were in vain. What is really disturbing and disappointing is that the soup kitchen in Flower Road only caters for about 100 people. There are many hungry people in Clairwood who rely on these facilities to feed their families.” According to Sewshanker residents have reported that a candidate for the upcoming by elections was given food parcels for his supporters and was seen distributing the hampers at the transit camp.

“Even people who live in fancy houses, drive good vehicles and wear smart clothes have no food to eat. The lockdown has ruined any chance of them earning an income. Never before have I ever had to deal with so many calls from middle income earners for hot meals and food hampers,” she said.

Sewshanker expressed her deep concern of the fact that she hasn’t been disregarded her as a standing councillor in the ward. “The City has deprived the Clairwood residents of receiving food hampers from the department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. All 110 wards in eThekwini were allocated hampers except for ward 32. “It is very disturbing when politics are put before the plight of hungry residents,” she said.

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