Trucks parked on the primary school property.
Image: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
AN OVERSIGHT visit to a primary school in Mount Edgecombe revealed the illegal use of school grounds and sports court as a truck depot, complete with diesel spillage, scrap metal litter and broken fencing.
The visit was conducted by KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer, Councillor Rory Macpherson and department officials.
The department, which acts as the custodian of government assets in KZN, said it would not allow schools situated on departmental land to be used for dangerous operations.
Meyer said the councillor approached the department after the eThekwini Municipality fined the property for violating bylaws.
“What we saw was damage to the property and clearly business being run on the property,” Meyer said.
Trucks are parked on the school grounds, posing safety risks to children.
Image: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
Macpherson said the issue, devaluation of properties, a nuisance, and a threat to schoolchildren and road users, has persisted for nearly two years.
Macpherson said three or four trailers at a time were parked on the pavement, extending into the road. This was a danger not only to road users (cars, motorbikes and bicycles), but also to children going to and coming from school, who had to walk on the road around the trailers.
Macpherson said the trucks being repaired on the school field created a serious health issue, with diesel, rubber, and spare parts lying next to the tennis courts where the children were playing.
Macpherson contended that any agreement between the school and a business to provide supplementary funding should have involved a business that complemented the school’s function.
He added that commercial buildings opposite the school felt their property values were being diminished by the “ongoing chaotic scene across the road,” which has included attracting “the wrong elements” and the “smell of diesel.”
Councillor Rory Macpherson and MEC Martin Meyer discuss the ongoing issues at the primary school.
Image: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
Macpherson said the municipality responded and took action and after repeated requests to the Durban metro police, two R5,000 fines were issued, and the removal of the trailers was ordered.
Macpherson said they expect land use management to issue fines to the school or the business owner.
“The MEC himself has said this is one of the worst examples of flagrant disregard of arrangements that he has seen himself, which I happen to agree with,” Macpherson said.
“The good that’s come out of it is that hopefully we’re going to get the business moved, closed down, and the field re-stated so that there’s a safe place for the children to play.”
The KZN Department of Education could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure called on the public to be their eyes and ears and report wrongdoing on government property at https://www.kznworks.gov.za. The department said they act on these reports.