Bluff residents, south of Durban, made their voices heard during a march against crime and decay on Saturday. 

Residents stated the Fix the Bluff march was to demand immediate action from the eThekwini Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, and the South African government. 

The community-led march highlighted the increased crime, lack of visible policing, decay of public spaces – broken parks, neglected roads, unsafe beaches, illegal dumping, and municipal service delivery issues, including waste management, road maintenance, street lighting, and law enforcement.

A memorandum was handed to Zoe Solomon, eThekwini ward 66 Councillor, on Saturday, who said she will take it to the relevant municipal departments.

Ratepayers are also tired of a decade of excuses and no budget claims, said Allison Schoeman, vice chairperson of the Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA).

One of the recommendations was for the formation of an oversight and compliance task team.

Schoeman suggested that the eThekwini Municipality establish a task team that includes representatives from the Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association and other stakeholders. 

“This team will receive monthly written reports on all projects and services listed in this memorandum, monitor compliance, and be empowered to escalate unresolved failures directly to Provincial and National Government, as well as relevant Chapter 9 institutions,” Schoeman said. 

The residents stated that they were frustrated with the mushrooming of homeless encampments on beaches and public land.

Kevin, a Bluff resident who declined to give his surname, argued that government employees must do what they get paid for.   

“We rely on community members and volunteers to perform the work that government employees should be doing,” he said. 

Charmaine Colby, a resident, said she was sick and tired of the decay and rot that encroached on the Bluff community. 

“It has to come to an end. We are a law-abiding community paying for services. We are invaded by homeless people drawn to the area by community feeding schemes. When there are gaps in the feeding times, we have found some of the homeless have resorted to stealing. Why should I have to watch my back while hanging washing on my line?”

The memorandum also details Colby’s plight.

In the memorandum, it stated that initiatives such as soup kitchens, free shopping events, and unregulated welfare handouts — while well-meaning — are directly attracting transient populations into the area without infrastructure to manage them.

Tenele Dlamini said she joined the march for better living conditions and that she had witnessed a sudden influx of homeless people. 

Saras Reddy stated that high tariffs were her concern, with residents paying estimated amounts. 

“We are forced to pay for services or get disconnected. The yard hoppers and petty criminals have increased daily. The government must provide shelters or empower them to find work. There are so many unemployed people wandering around the Bluff. We have to get our voices heard. I think people who are elected to fight for the people should do more. They blame intergovernmental departments while collecting a fat cheque. Councillors need to be forceful and demand service delivery. Enough of the excuses,” Reddy said. 

Anna Aston was concerned about the increasing informal settlements along their boundary wall. She said that property values are under threat due to deteriorating public safety and civic infrastructure.

“The homeless wander around tormenting our dogs and banging on our gates, demanding food. They walk past carrying all sorts of items. They have built shacks so close to the fence that you can reach out and touch their roofs,” she said. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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