Duncan Village streets are swamped by rubbish, with residents complaining that their trash was last collected towards the end of last year.
On a drive through the township, the Daily Dispatch found heaps of rubbish lining almost every street, with garbage ranging from black municipal bags of household rubbish to old mattresses, blankets and building rubble.
Some streets had one large rubbish heap, while others had three or four, all in front of or directly opposite people’s houses or shacks.
C-section resident Nontuntuzelo Nonewo said because the spot in front of her house had been used as a rubbish pick-up point for years, residents were still leaving their garbage there now, despite there being no collection.
The angry resident said she could not open her windows on hot days because of the smell, with maggots crawling into her yard.
Nonewo said she last saw a municipal rubbish collection truck last year.
“Its disgusting. The smell is really unbearable. It is summer now so the heat does not make it easier. But because of this rubbish, I’m forced to keep my windows closed all day, every day.
“There are flies and maggots in my house all the time and I don’t know what to do to make this situation better,” she said.
D-section resident Nolundi Tshambuluka said a rubbish heap in her street was obstructing a path residents used daily to access their homes, which had been built in a haphazard manner.
Tshambuluka also complained of recent strong winds, which blew some of the stray rubbish into their houses.
She said: “When we wake up in the morning, we are greeted by rubbish. When we get home in the afternoon, we are greeted by even more rubbish. This area is already plagued by poverty as it is. I think it’s unfair of the municipality to expect us to have to deal with this stinky mess as well.”
Motorist Thando Mazwi said they now had to bob and weave while driving through the streets. This was particularly dangerous given the high volume of taxis in the township.
“The rubbish heaps are so high in some streets that you can’t drive through, you have to go around. In most cases, there is another car coming around heading straight for you.
“Most of these streets have become one-lane roads all because of rubbish,” he said.
Ward 6 councillor Vimbile Mbinqo admitted rubbish collection had been an issue, but he also stressed that residents needed to learn to keep their open spaces clean as well.
“Yes, there is sometimes a challenge with late collection but in such cases I make an immediate call to the municipality to find out what’s happening and the issue is usually resolved a few days later,” he said.
“The municipality gives residents black refuse bags to put their garbage in but many of them prefer to dump their garbage in the street without putting it in their bags. Others dump in open spaces or in the middle of the street.”
Questions were sent to Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese but no response had been received at the time of writing. – zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Sinking under sea of filth
On a drive through the township, the Daily Dispatch found heaps of rubbish lining almost every street, with garbage ranging from black municipal bags of household rubbish to old mattresses, blankets and building rubble.
Some streets had one large rubbish heap, while others had three or four, all in front of or directly opposite people’s houses or shacks.
C-section resident Nontuntuzelo Nonewo said because the spot in front of her house had been used as a rubbish pick-up point for years, residents were still leaving their garbage there now, despite there being no collection.
The angry resident said she could not open her windows on hot days because of the smell, with maggots crawling into her yard.
Nonewo said she last saw a municipal rubbish collection truck last year.
“Its disgusting. The smell is really unbearable. It is summer now so the heat does not make it easier. But because of this rubbish, I’m forced to keep my windows closed all day, every day.
“There are flies and maggots in my house all the time and I don’t know what to do to make this situation better,” she said.
D-section resident Nolundi Tshambuluka said a rubbish heap in her street was obstructing a path residents used daily to access their homes, which had been built in a haphazard manner.
Tshambuluka also complained of recent strong winds, which blew some of the stray rubbish into their houses.
She said: “When we wake up in the morning, we are greeted by rubbish. When we get home in the afternoon, we are greeted by even more rubbish. This area is already plagued by poverty as it is. I think it’s unfair of the municipality to expect us to have to deal with this stinky mess as well.”
Motorist Thando Mazwi said they now had to bob and weave while driving through the streets. This was particularly dangerous given the high volume of taxis in the township.
“The rubbish heaps are so high in some streets that you can’t drive through, you have to go around. In most cases, there is another car coming around heading straight for you.
“Most of these streets have become one-lane roads all because of rubbish,” he said.
Ward 6 councillor Vimbile Mbinqo admitted rubbish collection had been an issue, but he also stressed that residents needed to learn to keep their open spaces clean as well.
“Yes, there is sometimes a challenge with late collection but in such cases I make an immediate call to the municipality to find out what’s happening and the issue is usually resolved a few days later,” he said.
“The municipality gives residents black refuse bags to put their garbage in but many of them prefer to dump their garbage in the street without putting it in their bags. Others dump in open spaces or in the middle of the street.”
Questions were sent to Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese but no response had been received at the time of writing. – zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos