BIRDSWOOD residents are still fuming after Shembe Church members pitched camp in front of their houses for a commemoration celebration which started on 20 April.
But there’s bad news, the 20-day event has been extended even further until 20 May.
Thousands of worshippers have been gathering at the Shembe temple located off Pelican Parade to memorialise the founding of their church in 1910.
However, the assembly was only approved by the City of uMhlathuze Municipality to take place on a 1.6 hectare stretch of Mpunza Hill Forest between Birdswood and Mandlazini.
Ward 2 Councillor, Alen Viljoen, said the camping on residential properties is not only illegal, but the entire gathering contravenes the law which necessitates the municipality to arrange disaster management in case of fires, noise and traffic congestion within the neighbourhood.
‘What toilets are they using? There are no sanitation facilities, water or electricity available for them.
‘This makes it a health hazard and the municipality has to address the issue and have the traffic officials and SAPS manage the problem ASAP.’
One resident said without lavatory facilities, campers have resorted to ‘going to the toilet’ and washing themselves using buckets of water on the sidewalks.
Other neighbours said the ‘makeshift lodgings ‘have caused damage to property and forced some to move into tourist accommodation until the matter is resolved’.
‘Everyone has to comply with the law and respect residents in Richards Bay,’ said Viljoen.
‘Residents inconvenienced by this situation need to lay charges at the SAPS for harassment and send their accounts for hotel fees to the municipality.’
Oh my goodness this is a joke.Where will all this end.
People living in Birdswood must sell there houses. Birdswood must be the worst suburb in Richards Bay. Forever traffic jams, crime and protests. Cant think that anyone would still buy a house in Birdswood!