Latest news with #StreetStore
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
City comments on tree complaints north of Durban
ETHEKWINI Municipality has acknowledged a growing backlog in addressing tree-related complaints, particularly in District 3, which includes areas such as Durban North, KwaMashu, Newlands East, Ntuzuma, and Newlands West. Also read: Help out at sorting day at Cornubia church for Street Store initiative The Northglen News reported on two tree-falling incidents, the first being in January when a massive tree that collapsed on Mount Argus Road in Umgeni Park knocked down electricity poles and disrupted traffic. The second occurred three weeks ago where a resident's car was damaged. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana confirmed the delays, citing multiple contributing factors. 'Yes, there's a backlog regarding tree complaints. This is attributed to a combination of limited resources and the high demand placed on the small team assigned to the area,' she said. District 3's tree maintenance team services 17 wards, which has placed significant pressure on manpower and equipment. To address the issue, Sisilana revealed that the municipality is in the process of acquiring new equipment to support and expand the capabilities of the existing team. Following the Northglen News article published on May 9 (Fallen tree leaves resident vulnerable), where a resident's car was damaged, the Northglen News queried about compensation for property damage caused by falling trees or overgrown vegetation. Sisilana stated that the municipality evaluates claims on a case-by-case basis. 'It depends on the investigation conducted by the department, which is evidence-based. The final decision lies with the insurance company after their own assessment,' she said. Residents affected by unresolved tree issues are encouraged to continue reporting incidents as the City works to clear the backlog and improve service delivery in the affected wards. Ward 36 councillor Heinz de Boer said he received complaints about trees daily. 'Complaints about trees hanging onto private property, overgrown trees, trees interfering with streetlights, trees falling and damaging private and municipal structures occur on a daily basis,' he said. He said he had met with the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department a few months ago where residents' concerns were addressed. 'It's clear that the equipment has not been replaced or upgraded in a long time. The trucks are more than 30 years old, the hydraulic lift leaks hydraulic fluid and there is no wood chipper,' added De Boer. He said he had requested funding for equipment from municipal management. 'Staff can't be expected to do their jobs without proper equipment,' said De Boer. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Local church to give homeless dignity through clothing collection
THIS year marks a decade that Grace Family Church has helped and supported the Street Store initiative which is a free, pop-up clothing and shoe store that helps hundreds of homeless people. Stocked with generous donations, the Street Store offers a way for the homeless to have a dignified shopping experience. The church has partnered with the Denis Hurley Centre to host the event on Saturday, May 31. Dave Richter, director of Grace Aid, the charitable arm of Grace Family Church, explained there are a number of ways residents can give back to the initiative. Also read: Durban North group hope to stitch new connections 'Residents can donate, or volunteer at our sorting day or volunteer to help out at the Street Store on the day. At the moment we are looking for volunteers to assist us with the sorting day which takes place on Saturday, May 24 at our Cornubia campus. On that day we sort through the items and then box them up for display. We welcome anyone from the community to come volunteer and help to sort clothes into sizes and box them. The day is perfect for families or young people looking to do community service,' he said. 'This all started from a suggestion from a volunteer who'd seen a video on the Street Store concept. They proposed it and we felt it would be a wonderful opportunity to make a tangible difference to serve the materially poor in a dignified way. On average over the last 10 years we've served close to 1000 homeless people at the Street Store. Currently, the uMhlanga campus of the church is home to a shipping container where people can donate items of clothes and shoes. Donations can also be dropped off at any of the four Grace Church campuses including Cornubia, Riverside, Ballito during the week between 08:00 and 15:30,' he said. Also read: Childline calls on Durban North for toys and hygiene products Richter added that the sorting day is open to everyone and is non-denominational. He also touched on the types of clothing items needed. 'We are calling for donations of clothing, shoes and bags and we are really looking for men's slim / small sizes in clothing. Most of the homeless people we serve are men. We are also looking for any donations of shoes of various sizes. Shoes are gold on the street and most homeless people don't have a decent pair. We are also going to be buying clothing to support the initiative and if people cannot make it to the sorting day or the Street Store they can make a donation through our website should they want,' he said. Important dates to remember Saturday, May 24: Sorting day to box clothing and shoes at the church's Cornubia campus (29 Flanders Drive). Saturday, May 31: The Street store will be held at Denis Hurley Centre (2 Cathedral Road, Durban CBD). For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
