CoE – Waste removal services continue over festive season
Ekurhuleni assures residents that waste removal will run as usual throughout the holidays, with only one disruption on Christmas Day.
As the festive season approaches, the CoE assures residents that waste removal services will continue as usual throughout the holidays, with only a minor disruption on Christmas Day, December 25.
City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini clarified that areas scheduled for waste removal on Christmas Day will instead be serviced the next week, according to the waste removal calendar.
“This is the only disruption during the festive season. On all other days, including New Year’s Day, waste removal services will proceed as usual,” Dlamini confirmed.
The city also reminds residents of a common practice that raised concerns in previous years – giving Christmas gifts to municipal workers.
While often seen as an act of goodwill, the city said this practice is against council policy and could negatively, though unintendedly, affect service delivery.
Dlamini explained that incidents happened when residents reported feeling pressured or mistreated by municipal workers who had not received gifts.
This city said this situation disrupts waste removal operations because the workers might be distracted by soliciting or receiving gifts, delaying completing their rounds.
“Such gifts, while meant kindly, can affect the efficiency of services, especially in sectors like waste removal, where even minor delays can have a significant impact,” Dlamini added.
Dlamini stressed that municipal staff get paid for their work and that the public is not obliged to give gifts.
“We pay our staff to perform their duties, and therefore, the public does not owe them anything beyond the services they are entitled to,” he said.
The city urged residents to respect the policy, ensuring smooth-running services throughout the festive period.
Should there be waste removal interruptions, residents can report them to the city’s call centre on 086 054 3000 for immediate help.
As the holiday season gets underway, the city is working to ensure that its municipal services, including waste removal, continue running efficiently without unnecessary disruptions.
