City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, alongside senior municipal officials, oversaw the recommissioning of 10 council-owned waste compactor trucks at the Benoni Waste Depot on February 4, a move set to strengthen refuse collection services in several areas, including Springs.

The trucks will be redeployed as follows: three in Edenvale, one in Bedfordview, one in Boksburg, two in Germiston and one each in Springs, Kempton Park and Alberton to strengthen refuse collection services.

These vehicles add to the eight council-owned waste compactor trucks that were recommissioned last month.

Lerutla said the recommissioning of the trucks is expected to ease service delivery pressures and improve the reliability of refuse collection across the affected areas.

He said their key strategic priorities since taking office have been to rely more on internal staff and reduce dependence on contracted services.

“We are here to hand over these trucks to our officials to ensure they are capacitated and able to render services to our residents.

“The city has a number of trucks that have been standing in various workshops, which we are now repairing to increase the fleet currently operating on the ground,” he said.

He added that the city would continue rolling out refurbished vehicles to other depots. The initiative forms part of the city’s Fixing the Frontline service delivery programme, which aims to restore functionality, improve efficiency and reinforce professionalism at municipal depots.

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Operational concerns
Before starting their shifts, a large group of municipal workers gathered at the depot, where Lerutla addressed them about the refurbished trucks that are returning to service.

During the engagement, workers also raised operational concerns, among these the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), an essential tool of their trade. Lerutla said the City aims to address these issues, with proper PPE expected to be in place by July 1.