TODD PURDIN writes:
Recently Express reported on Ekurhuleni mayor, Mondli Gungubele’s, State of the City Address.
One very worrying item caught my attention. Apparently the metro has taken a decision to soon roll out wheelie garbage bins to all formal Kempton Park households.
This will obviously replace the current black bag method of garbage collection.
I am amazed that a system that has caused so many problems to residents elsewhere would be foolishly adopted by our metro. Friends and family of mine residing in Johannesburg, where the system has been in operation for some time by Pikitup contractors, complain bitterly of the endless frustrating problems that have occurred.
As the bins have a substantial financial value, they are stolen in large numbers, with accusations of Pikitup collectors also being involved in what can be a lucrative sideline business for them.
The bins also incur frequent damage, especially to the wheels. The more they are stolen, so does the replacement black market grow, with rampant theft for replacements.
When theft or damage occurs it causes major problems to residents as the Pikitup workers then refuse to collect their rubbish. There is then a “hoo-ha” by having to sign an affidavit at a police station to present at the council offices, before being allowed to purchase a new bin.
This is of course highly inconvenient, if not impossible for elderly or disabled folk, and we all know how telephone calls go unanswered at our metro offices. Some people suffer repeated thefts.
If it is not too late to reverse this silly decision, I hope that the opposition councillors can earn our votes and persuade council to reconsider, for the sake of all our sanity.
