The people of Chatsworth in Durban say their neighbourhood no longer feels like home. Piles of rubbish are being dumped on vacant land and sidewalks, and residents are fed up with the dirt, the smell, and the health risks.

For months, illegal dumping has turned once-tidy streets into eyesores. Elderly resident Johnson Subramoney says what hurts most is watching the community he grew up in lose its pride.

“They just come with trucks and dump and dump,” Subramoney said. “We are old now; we can’t bear living like this. When we were younger, Chatsworth was clean and safe. Now we can’t even sit outside. The flies, maggots, and rats are everywhere. The smell makes us sick, and there’s nothing we can do.”

Ward councillor Tony Govender has appealed to residents to use proper waste disposal services instead of treating open spaces as rubbish sites. “People are throwing anything and everything into open areas, sidewalks, and verges. We’re pleading with them—please don’t dump.”

The authorities say they are cracking down. eThekwini Municipality law enforcement officer Don Baijnath warned that illegal dumping is a serious offence. “The fine for illegal dumping is R5,000,” he said.

Govender added that stronger action is needed: “Authorities must crack the whip and hold these individuals accountable. The only way forward is through cooperation between communities, municipal officials, and law enforcement.”

But for now, residents say the problem shows no sign of going away, leaving many in Chatsworth waiting anxiously for real and lasting solutions.

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Illegal dumping in Dunlop, Mill, and Hamilton Streets has now reached crisis levels, with piles of waste growing larger by the day. This is more than just an eyesore; it has become a serious health hazard, attracting rodents, creating breeding grounds for disease, and lowering the quality of life for everyone in the vicinity. Business owners are suffering the consequences as customers avoid the area, while residents are left to navigate through filth daily.

Numerous calls, WhatsApp messages, and formal Rule 38 questions have been submitted to the relevant Member of the Management Committee (MMC), Councillor Jonas. Yet, these attempts to engage the municipality have all been met with silence. This lack of response is not only disrespectful to the community but further evidence of the ANC-led government’s inability, or refusal, to carry out even the most basic service delivery responsibilities.

The petition provides affected residents and businesses with a formal channel to express their frustration and demand accountability. The growing support for this petition is a clear indication that the community has had enough of being ignored and neglected.

The DA recognises that clean, safe environments are not a luxury; they are a fundamental right. We remain committed to restoring order through better governance, proactive service delivery, and regular oversight. Illegal dumping must be tackled at its root through more vigorous enforcement of municipal bylaws, effective waste collection systems, and accountability from municipal leadership.

The residents of Ward 3 and Mangaung at large are tired of broken promises. Many are already looking to the upcoming election as an opportunity to vote out the ANC and bring in a DA government that will take decisive action to improve the living conditions of all communities.

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