By Subashni Naidoo

"Sick and tired" residents of Clairwood, Merebank and Merewent have dug in their heels against Transnet proposals for the extension of Durban Harbour and vowed to petition the Constitutional Court.

Transnet representatives and project consultants met with the residents this week to discuss the proposals and to view a presentation outlining plans to widen the harbour entrance and enlarge the Bayhead area to accommodate higher volumes of traffic passing through the port.

But before the presentation could proceed at the Yuvak Arya Samaj education and cultural centre in Clairwood, residents refused to engage in discussions until the town-planning scheme to declare the area a residental zone had been approved by the eThekwini Municipality.

Clairwood Ratepayers' and Residents' Association chairman Rishi Singh said: "The people are frustrated over this matter, which has been at a discussion stage for a number of years.

"The zoning issue has been a problem for the past 50 years. Residents are now refusing to engage in any proposed port expansion discussions until we know where we stand and whether this area is a residential or industrial zone.

"Clairwood has been targeted because the authorities are looking at ways to use our land for the port expansion and our area is closest to the port."

He said residents were "sick and tired" of knocking on the council's door to have their area clearly defined in terms of residential zoning.

"We have sought legal opinion and are currently liaising with two advocates from the Legal Resource Centre, who will help us petition the Constitutional Court. We have a right to live here."

He said residents in the South Durban Basin area encompassing Wentworth, Merebank and the Bluff had indicated their support and promised to help them fight their battle.

He said Clairwood was rich in history, and residents were sentimental about their homes, which were built almost 10 decades ago.

Sundree Pillay, 68, who has lived in Flower Road all her life, said her house had many special memories which she would like to pass on to the next generation.

"Our house is sentimental and irreplaceable. All of our roots lie here. It took my parents five years to build this house. Now I am scared that we will be forced to move out. I will not accept it," said Pillay.

She said she had sleepless nights when she thought of the consequences of the port expansion.

"It is affecting me a lot. This is a close-knit neighbourhood. The port expansion is going to force us out of here, and when that happens, where do we go? We live together here as a family. We will fight this battle until the end."

Kista Naidoo, 75, said he believed that Clairwood would be the worst-hit area.

"We are close to the planned port and have plenty of flat land with no hills and valleys that authorities would want to make use of," he said. "This place at one stage had the largest concentration of Indians in Durban. It was know as Little India."

Betty Adipersadh, 61, said the community were already battling to cope with pollution and feared that it would get worse.

Muniamma Soobramoney, 65, said: "I will not accept being forced to start my life all over again. We will not allow these authorities to take advantage of us and just push us wherever they feel so that they can make more money. We are not a wealthy community, but we are happy here."

Deputy mayor Logie Naidoo urged residents to participate in discussions in order to influence the outcome of the process.

"The consultation process with the city in terms of the future planning for Clairwood and the widening of the harbour will determine their future, and it is up to them to ensure that it is of benefit to them and has minimal impact on residents," said Naidoo.

Transnet spokesman John Dludlu said the area earmarked for the proposed development was within the property boundaries of Transnet.

"Other areas that could be indirectly impacted by the proposed development will be assessed during the environmental impact assessment process in conjunction with all role players," said Dludlu.

He added that the areas about which residents were concerned fell under the jurisdiction of the municipality. "The municipality will have to provide the residents with their future plans."