The non-removal of refuse in Kempton Park has reached a new low the past weeks with hardly any bins emptied.
Yet, Kempton Park waste department remains mum on the issue, giving ward councillors and Kempton Express the run-around for weeks with its silence on why the service is falling apart.
However, the department has committed to send representatives to two public meetings today (March 2) to provide some answers.
The first meeting will take place at Café Aroma at the NG Church Hoogland, corner of De Wiekus and Elgin roads, Van Riebeeck Park at 1pm.
At 2pm another meeting will be held in Park 669 on Handel Street in Terenure.
While wheelie bins are overflowing and black bags are piling up next to them, residents have reached their wits end.
A Norkem Park resident said: “I would like to know why we are not receiving the service from the waste management department. Our rubbish has not been collected for two weeks going on three weeks now. What are they doing with our money?
“I want answers and I can tell you, all residents of Kempton Park are now gatvol. Not even our councillor can get answers.”
Local DA LP Mike Waters handed a petition into Parliament on October 8 last year on behalf of the residents of Kempton Park, calling on Parliament to investigate the enforcement of the National Environmental Management Waste Act, 2008 (Act No 59 of 2008) in Ekurhuleni Metro to ensure regular and reliable refuse collection.
“The continuing waste collection crisis that has plagued residents for over a year will come before the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs in Parliament for a follow-up briefing on March 19,” Waters said on Friday.
“Given the metro’s own admission that they are skipping picking up the backlog and simply continuing with their normal schedule, as well as the fact that some areas have had no refuse collection for three weeks, I will be interested to see how the metro tries to wriggle itself out of this crisis and tries to persuade that all is well in the metro,” said Waters.
“It is unacceptable that the metro expects residents to pay for a service they simply do not provide or provide a sub-standard service. It is theft, and the metro should reimburse the residents.
“The residents of Kempton Park can be assured that I will attend the Portfolio Committee and I intend to ensure that the metro is held to account.”
