KNYSNA NEWS - Leaking and defunct toilets in Hornlee are yet to be inspected by the Knysna Municipality, despite a council resolution two months ago to address the issue.
This is according to residents of Hornlee when Knysna-Plett Herald visited some of the affected households on Friday 4 May, when desperate pleas for assistance from the community were also revealed.
Residents reiterated their daily struggle to relieve themselves in comfort and with dignity.
“Since last year, water has been leaking behind our toilet, and we've reported it and complained to the municipality,” said a resident of Allemein Street. “No one comes here when we complain. We don't know how much longer we have to wait.”
'Shoddy workmanship'
Residents have complained about shoddy workmanship, leaking toilets, broken flush handles, crumbling cubicles and faulty fill valves.
The installation of 274 toilets over the past two years have come at a cost of R12-million – and the figure is expected to rise as the municipality will have to fix and repair dozens of toilets that are faulty.
The municipality did not respond to specific questions from the Knysna-Plett Herald, such as why no inspection of the toilets has taken place yet, and the health implications as expressed by the residents.
In short response to an enquiry, the municipality stated, “Council requires a detailed technical report to determine the cost of fixing the toilets. The relevant department is currently collating this report for council’s consideration. The report serves at the Planning and Integrated Human Settlements Section 80 committee meeting.”
Samantha Donson says her toilet has been leaking since last year and despite reports to the municipality, it is yet to be fixed. Photos: Yaseen Gaffar
'No inspections done'
But residents have asked, “How can a report be collated if no one from the municipality has come to see the condition of the toilets and what repair work is required?”
According to ward councillor Ricky van Aswegen, the concern is quite simple: “While we wait for technical reports, affected residents in Hornlee are still subjected to making use of broken and faulty toilets. For how much longer must the community wait? It's now almost winter and they'll probably have to bear the brunt of it under these conditions.”
Van Aswegen said he receives weekly complaints from the community of Hornlee regarding toilets, and that some people have just a structure with no toilet.
“The entire situation is not the fault of the current administration, but why do you need a technical report to have toilets repaired? The toilets need to be fixed as soon as possible. The municipality needs to address the real concern here, and additionally ask themselves, is there provision in the budget to spend even more money to have the toilets fixed? ”
Denzel Davidson, ward committee member in Hornlee, points to a toilet which has had a permanent leak for months now.
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