The City of Ekurhuleni is accelerating efforts to reduce its reliance on contracted services by strengthening internal capacity within its service delivery departments.

As part of newly appointed city manager Kagiso Lerutla’s legacy programme, Fixing the Frontline, Lerutla, MMC for Environmental Resources and Waste Management Clr Leshaka Manamela, and members of the city’s senior management visited the Boksburg Waste Depot to engage frontline workers and identify obstacles affecting service delivery.

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Key shortcomings identified
During engagements with staff, several challenges were raised, chief among them the lack of basic tools of trade – from personal protective equipment (PPE) to operational waste compactor trucks.

Of the city’s 78 council-owned compactor trucks, over 50 are currently stationed at mechanical workshops, leaving depots with insufficient vehicles and forcing the municipality to depend heavily on contracted services for refuse collection.

Other concerns included prolonged vacancy filling in critical posts, delays in responding to operational issues, and deteriorating depot infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, Lerutla reaffirmed the city’s commitment to urgent intervention.

“We want all 56 of our trucks back from the workshops. We do not want to rely on plant hire,” Lerutla said.
“This programme is about fixing and capacitating our depots and improving the well-being of workers so that service delivery can function properly again.”

He stressed that the administration’s goal is for municipal workers to deliver services directly.

“As government, we cannot outsource our responsibility to serve communities, because contracted services come with serious risks and challenges,” he said.
“Our target is that within three years, at least 80% of the work in service delivery departments such as waste, water and energy will be done by internal staff.”

Fleet management under scrutiny
MMC Manamela echoed these sentiments, describing fleet management as the waste department’s biggest challenge.

“For a long time, most of our compactor trucks have been grounded at workshops due to frequent breakdowns, forcing us to rely on contractors,” said Manamela.
“In some depots, there are only two trucks. When one returns from the workshop, the other breaks down.”

Manamela questioned why municipal vehicles appear to break down more frequently than contractor-operated vehicles, pointing to possible negligence and poor driving behaviour.

Responding to the Boksburg Advertiser’s question about potential sabotage, Manamela said: “We can not accuse anyone of sabotage because we have no evidence. But there are strong indications of negligence. Drivers must take care of the equipment because these trucks are the tools we need to fulfil our mandate.”

He also called on managers to strengthen fleet control and monitoring systems, noting that many breakdowns are avoidable with proper oversight.
Manamela added that dependence on contractors exposes the city to service disruptions when disputes arise.

“When contractors down tools, residents suffer. That is why we must capacitate ourselves to do the work.”

New trucks and monitoring measures
During the visit, management recommissioned eight compactor trucks that had been sitting in workshops. Two will be allocated to Boksburg, with the remainder distributed to other towns.

The city has also committed to adding 10 brand-new trucks–five expected at the beginning of February and another five by month-end, in addition to returning more vehicles from repairs.
Head of Department for Communications, Marketing and Tourism, Phakamile Mbengashe, said measures are being put in place to protect the fleet.

“We plan to install cameras inside and outside trucks, as well as telematics and tracking technology to monitor driver behaviour,” said Mbengashe.
“Our long-term plan is to safeguard these assets and ensure they remain on the road.”
He added that bringing back trucks from the workshops would save the city money and keep municipal workers productively employed at the depot level.

The city is also considering decentralising certain functions, allowing departments such as waste management to handle procurement of PPE, vehicles and fleet maintenance internally to improve efficiency.

Workers voice frustrations
Workers at the Boksburg Waste Depot welcomed the engagement but raised longstanding concerns.

“You cannot employ people and place them on the ground without the tools to do the work and still expect results,” said one worker.
“We want our trucks back. Contracted services delay our work and create unfair conditions for workers.”
Workers also complained that vehicles are being grounded due to unpaid licence discs and that depot buildings and ablution facilities are in poor condition.

“We deal with waste every day, yet we cannot even wash properly before going home,” said another worker. “We want to serve residents, just give us the tools.”
Some workers also cited political interference as a contributing factor to operational challenges, while cautioning that the visit should lead to tangible action rather than being a publicity exercise.

Law enforcement support
Acting Head of Department for Community Safety, Dr Tsholofelo Koopedi, assured workers and management that the EMPD would intensify monitoring of truck drivers.
He said that where there is reckless driving, officers will act decisively. Drivers who break the law or endanger others will be penalised.

City leadership concluded the visit by reiterating that Fixing the Frontline is aimed at restoring pride, accountability and effective service delivery, starting with putting municipal resources back where they belong.

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