Benoni Waste Depot official suspended following BCT investigation
The official at the Benoni Waste Depot who in May sold a wheelie bin to the City Times for R100, has been suspended pending the finalisation of the matter.
This was confirmed at a meeting with the spokesperson for the municipality Themba Gadebe, and the Ekurhuleni’s Department of Waste Management acting head Madikana Thenga, on August 16.
READ:
Metro investigates wheelie bin corruption
He will receive full pay until the investigation has been finalised.
In early May, while wheelie bins were being distributed from the Benoni Waste Depot in Golden Drive, Morehill, the City Times received reports from the public saying employees at the depot were “selling” extra bins to people for a bribe, without registering the bins.
People would pick up the one bin allowed for by their existing monthly refuse payments, and be offered a second one or more by paying cash on the spot.
This would result in bins leaving the depot without residents having to pay monthly installments for them.
The resident would then only pay for one bin per month, but receive the services of more.
The City Times accompanied a member of the public to the depot on May 8.
Wearing a hidden camera and a hidden microphone, we pretended we were there to pick up a wheelie bin on behalf of a third party.
When we accompanied one of the employees to the container with wheelie bins, we asked how we could get a second bin if we need it.
The man said: “If you have R100, we can sort something out now.”
In response, The City Times asked if this would then be paid monthly to the metro.
The employee said it would be a once-off payment to him. In exchange he would not register the second wheelie bin taken.
We took the bin and paid the R100.
The metro was sent a photo of the bin standing in a street and asked whether the bin was registered and allocated to a resident.
“Our investigations revealed that the wheelie bin (serial number 051 623 092) in the picture is missing,” the comment stated.
“We think the bin was stolen from our depot during distribution or the bin was mistakenly taken by the person(s) who took the bins with serial numbers 051 623 091 or 051 623 093.
“We have records of these two bins, but we do not have any signed record of the missing bin.”
Also read:
How will wheelie bins handle garden waste?
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
