Children and staff members at Hertzog Pre-Primary School are grappling with deplorable conditions as the Barry Hertzog shopping complex becomes overrun by litter and human waste.
The school’s principal, Yvette Honneysett, revealed that each morning, staff must clear strewn bottles and other debris before the children arrive.
Shockingly, they also find themselves cleaning human faecal matter, as the area is unfortunately used as an improvised toilet.
Honneysett highlighted the severity of the issue, noting that on some days, the impact of human waste reaches the classrooms, making it difficult for both children and teachers to breathe and concentrate on lessons. The shopping complex, often frequented by residents as a social venue, has prompted the school to report the matter to relevant authorities, including multiple engagements with the Newcastle Municipality.
Despite the Newcastle Municipality placing a larger refuse skip to address the litter problem, Honneysett stressed that the issue persists, with litter and human waste continuing to be a pressing concern. “We can’t endure this any longer,” she exclaimed.
Recognising the health risks posed by the accumulating waste, Newcastillian News approached the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit on 28 November 2023, seeking information on measures to curb the constant littering and prevent the area’s misuse as a makeshift toilet facility.
In response and when looking at the extensive litter, the Newcastle Municipality explained, “The Barry Hertzog Park shopping centre is privately owned, as such they are responsible for the cleanliness of the centre and its parking area. The bulk refuse container in the property is for the use of the shops and is paid for by the centre.”
While stating the cleanliness of the complex was on the shoulders of the owners of the premises, the Newcastle Municipality noted that there are fines for littering in the street, for up to R1 000 and that the law enforcement sector was responsible for enforcing this.
As for residents using the area as a makeshift toilet, the municipality stressed that law enforcement should be involved in stopping residents from urinating and more.
While the municipality could not take much responsibility for the going-on at the centre, the Municipality said, “We have engaged with the SAPS since the residents have raised complaints with regards to the area.”
Now, as law enforcement prepares to take over the matter, what are your thoughts on the above mentioned?
Share your views in the comment section below.
One Response
Totally disgusting, the owners of the shopping complex should feel ashamed that they turn a blind eye to this disgusting, unhygienic site, they obviously don’t see it as bad as they receive the rent and smile,( all about the money), the main contribution to this unsightly mess is the lounge where there is no regard to other public, those patrons consume alcohol in the parking area, broken bottles everywhere, the owner of this lounge doesn’t have displine on his patrons as he also smiles cause he is making money, law enforcement doesn’t exist in that area, as for the public area being used for toilets that lies on how the public has no self respect. If we had a decent law enforcement system I say these people who are caught using the public areas for drinking, urinating ect, should receive fines for their undisciplined behavior.