Alleged mismanagement at landfill site

Trash diggers working at the Luipaardsvlei landfill site is fed up being ill treated by the management.

Trash diggers or collectors who work on the dump on several occasions have complained about mismanagement by the supervisor and manager of the site.

Earlier this year a News journalist was assaulted at the site while investigating the allegations.

Since then nothing has changed, trash digger Simon September claimed.

He said they are being punished by the manager and security guards refuse them entry to the site to go and dig through trash for recyclable goods.

“He also fines us for two weeks to stay away from the site, hence for that time we are not making any money,” September explained.

On many occasions the diggers have begged the manager for permission to dig, but instead is instructed to clean up the municipal property before they are allowed back.

They claim each digger is forced to do an hour’s cleaning per day for two weeks as punishment.

It is also alleged that the diggers no longer are allowed to take the coal that is dumped there, “The coal was very useful.

“Everything that is useful to us the manager stops us from taking.”

The diggers believe the manager is not following the correct procedures when making new rules.

“He just instructs the security guards to chase us away, and they simply follow his orders. His judgments or punishments do not consider age or gender. ‘Go and do what I tell you to’ is what he always says.”

The News contacted Mogale City Local Municipality for comment regarding the allegations and awaits feedback from spokesperson, Nkosana Zali.

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