THE Bluff Showgrounds, a public space that dedicated volunteers have been tirelessly working to beautify, continues to face significant challenges. Years of community effort to reclaim and maintain this popular area are being undermined by persistent issues of litter, public drinking and people continuously defecating on the showgrounds. 

These challenges have created an ongoing burden on those who have committed their time to improving the grounds.

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Ronel Lategan, vice-chairperson for the Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA), said substantial efforts have been made to transform the showgrounds into a welcoming recreational space, a transformation largely driven by dedicated residents such as Derek Heale and Roslyn Glazer.

Ongoing issues

Lategan said she was disheartened by the persistent damage caused by a small number of individuals to the facility that is intended for the wider community. She added that residents should not be expected to simply tolerate such misuse as a normal occurrence.

“The grounds are being used on an almost daily basis by the homeless who sleep there, defecate and leave behind their human waste. One of our members has had to bury faeces on multiple occasions. Another challenge is litter and other unsanitary conditions. We have also recently experienced unauthorised gatherings where people used the grounds without following the proper permission process and left food waste, paper, plastic and other litter behind. What makes this particularly frustrating is that the clean-up often falls on residents and volunteers rather than eThekwini Municipality,” said Lategan. 

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The recurring nature of these issues has left volunteers increasingly demoralised and disheartened. Lategan confirmed that the issues are incidents that residents observed and reported regularly and not merely isolated occurrences. 

Calls for law enforcements on the showgrounds

In response to these challenges, the BRRA are calling for a more robust and proactive law enforcement presence at the showgrounds.

“We have called for a more proactive approach from SAPS and metro police through routine patrols and inspections rather than only responding after complaints are made. We have also proposed that the Parks Department consider fencing and control access to the showgrounds. Public parks are intended for responsible community use, and we do not believe residents should be expected to tolerate ongoing misuse, vandalism, littering and unsanitary conditions,” said Lategan.

Regarding the issue of the homeless defecating, Lategan said that the showgrounds do not have functional toilet facilities due to vandalism.  “The infrastructure is there and can only be reinstated once proper responsibility use can be ensured,” she said. 

Holding municipality accountable

Lategan affirmed that the BRRA remained committed to holding the municipality accountable while continuing its collaborative work with residents to improve the area. 

Despite the ongoing difficulties, Lategan also encouraged residents to support the association’s vision for a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming area.

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