City Declares War On Graffiti

30 June, 2008

_{The BR&E Seminar was an initiative of the South Durban Basin Team, The Durban Investment and Promotions Agency and The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.}

 

Durban is like any other city in that it has its fair share of graffiti. And just like any other city there are people who are shocked, appalled, and disgusted by it. Children and young adults become involved in graffiti vandalism for a number of reasons.  These include gang association, peer recognition, lack of artistic and recreational alternatives, the element of danger, and lack of appropriate parental supervision and discipline. 

Gary Roper, Director for Graffiti Removal Services, revealed this during the BR&E Seminar, which is an initiative of the South Durban Basin Team, the Durban Investment and Promotions Agency and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Roper said, “Council electricity boxes, Municipality roads and signs, Telkom infrastructure and Metro rail coaches are the preferred targets of the taggers”.  He said graffiti is a growing problem in many neighborhoods but one company has a new weapon in its war on graffiti. “Graffiti is unsightly and if it is not removed it attracts more graffiti and if it's gang related you want it gone right away to show others we don't want gangs”, added Roper.

Lee D’Eathe, SDB Area Manager said, “Graffiti has defaced many walls, buildings, bridges and road signs, and has forced the municipality to mount several clean-up campaigns”. Said D’Eathe “The Municipality's routine cleaning operations cost the ratepayer hundreds of thousands a year - a figure that could rise sharply as the problem grows.  And the growing number of road signs being defaced in and around the city is of serious concern to the municipality, because of the cost and dangers involved”.

According to Russell Curties, DIPA CEO, Graffiti could have long-term effects if left unattended to as we approach 2010.  He said that citizens needed to take ownership and pride in our city and send out a clear message that Graffiti is unlawful.  “We would also like to appeal to businesses to come on board by adopting a wall that could be maintained and kept clean at all times by our partners”, concluded Curties. 

Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone found to be involved in defacing the Municipality property by contacting this number: 080 13 13 013. 

For more information on BR&E future Seminars as well as on how to become part of this initiative, please contact Nondumiso Ntuli at031 – 336-2512 or nondumiso.ntuli@dipa.co.za

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