Refuse removal in Kempton Park has collapsed.
This is according to DA shadow MMC for environmental development and waste management, Alderman André du Plessis.
Now, he and DA councillors from across Kempton Park are calling for the immediate resignation of MMC Ndosi.
“The buck stops with her,” Du Plessis told Express. “She is supposed to ensure her department provides service to the community. They don’t have the capacity of vehicles or staff to service the Kempton community on the scheduled dates. Enough is enough.”
Du Plessis filed a motion on March 28. He said the MMC denied there was a crisis.
“After much debate, [it was decided] that all backlogs would be referred to the city manager for her to determine what the problem is and to resolve this debacle. We thus request all residents to forward their complaints regarding the non-collection of wheelie bins plus accumulated refuse bags due to backlogs directly to the City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi.”
According to Clr Tracey Lourenco, residents of ward 104 are “angry and ready to dump refuse in large amounts on the municipality’s doorstep”.
Lourenco said refuse in their area was not collected on the correct date, bins were only collected at certain homes and rodents have started infesting the area.
These issues are mirrored across Kempton Park. Clr Desmond Mckenzie from ward 91 told Express that refuse had not been removed throughout Birchleigh North and Norkem Park for as long as three weeks.
Clr Gideon van Zyl from ward 15 said refuse collection in his ward was a major concern for residents. “Over the past six weeks, it has been spotty at best and non-existent for a large part.”
Express has received multiple calls from upset residents about the general issue of refuse removal. Jan Benade, who lives on Monument Road, said refuse was only collected on one side of his street. When he called the depot to complain, there was no answer.
Du Plessis said this is, firstly, because the depot does not have the capacity, and secondly, because they are being malicious. “The Ekurhuleni municipality has cut their overtime to 40 hours a person a month. Now, they are purposefully on a go-slow.”
He added ward councillors were approached each day, and often even abused, by members of the community about this issue.
“Ekurhuleni is failing to supply a service that members of the community are paying for.”
Therefore, many ward councillors are insisting that Shongwe resign from her position. They believe it is her job to resolve the refuse crisis.
To fed-up residents, Du Plessis advised taking legal action.
“The bottom line is that people still need to pay their bills, or their electricity will be disconnected. I recommend people to seek legal advice on this matter. Individuals and groups of communities could take the matter further legally if they wish.”
