Reduction in refuse bills not enough to appease furious residents

Some residents complained the scheduled was not being adhered to however, and said certain areas had been neglected from September.

November 11, 2019

Tersia Gopi 1 minute read

After municipal workers downed tools due to overtime pay being denied in September, refuse collection services have become sporadic.

Litter has marred areas in the CBD and residential suburbs, which angered residents who paid for the services.

While efforts by the municipality to formulate refuse collection schedules are underway, Head of Communications, Dr Dumisani Thabethe said the services would only normalise once the matter of suspended municipal staff had been concluded.

According to the municipality, the Financial Portfolio Standing Committee met on October 18 to deliberate a reduced fee billed to residents for refuse collection.

“The residents were already only billed 50 per cent off the refuse bill in the month of October,” explained Dr Thabethe.

In the interim, residents were encouraged to monitor the municipality’s social media platforms, where refuse collection schedules were being communicated.

Some residents complained the scheduled was not being adhered to however, and said certain areas had been neglected from September.

“We endeavour to collect waste from each area at least once a week,” responded Dr Thabethe.

Residents are still urged by the municipality to drop off their rubbish at the Farmers Hall, where a municipality skip is stationed, or directly at the Waste Disposal site.