Mike Press shows some of the public toilets that are built near the houses.
A block of public toilets positioned in front of a plush sea-facing complex in Chaka’s Rock, near Ballito, has become a breeding ground for vermin and maggots, say locals.
The “eyesore” - near the Chaka’s Rock tidal pool - has angered residents of the complex, who say it was built without consultation and poses a health hazard.
They are also concerned that the ablution facilities will devalue their properties.
In March last year, the residents and body corporate of Chaka’s Place obtained an interim interdict from the Durban High Court, restraining the KwaDukuza municipality from continuing to construct the ablution block and from allowing the public to use it.
Mike Press, who represents the body corporate of Chaka’s Cove, in front of which the toilets stand, said the municipality had ignored the court order and completed construction, but it was not long before the building was vandalised.
“The doors have been ripped out, the urinals and toilets have been used although they don’t flush, the pipes have been removed and the toilets have been left in a revolting condition,” he said.
“The building hasn’t been officially opened, but the public have forcibly gained access to it and the vandalism has risen.”
Press said the old ablution facilities, which were damaged by very large surf in 2007, had been positioned near the sewage pump station, 100m from their complex.
“The municipality then decided to build the new block, but instead of building it near the pump station, where the toilets originally were, they just put them right in front of our doorstep,” he said.
He said the residents had approached the municipality before the 2010 festive season to propose that the toilets be fixed and used on a temporary basis.
But this was on condition that they would be demolished and moved to where they had originally been located by the end of this month.
“The municipality rejected our offer and now we are left with stinking toilets we don’t want,” he said.
Michael Hands, an attorney at De Wet Leitch Hands, who is handling the matter on behalf of the residents, said the matter would be argued in court in May.
Ward councillor Ann McDonnell said that the toilets had been locked by the municipality when the interdict was secured, but people had broken in.
“We go there to clean them up now and again, but people still use them… We are now waiting for the court to decide,” she said.
KwaDukuza municipal spokesman Sifiso Zulu said that the matter was sub judice.
“KwaDukuza Municipality will not comment on the merits or lack thereof of the views expressed by the body corporate until the court makes a ruling on the matter,” he said. - The Mercury
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