Residents in Dundee and Glencoe are again venting their frustration over what they describe as poor service delivery, with refuse bags piling up on pavements and remaining uncollected.

The Courier received complaints from residents in both towns, who said some of the bags had been opened by dogs and homeless people, leaving rubbish scattered across sidewalks.

Refuse piling up on pavements

One Ward 2 resident from Douglas Street said residents had not seen a municipal refuse truck collecting the rubbish.

“Refuse has been scattered around sidewalks by those looking to recycle domestic rubbish. We have not seen a municipal refuse truck,” the resident said.

The uncollected refuse has raised concerns about hygiene, the appearance of neighbourhoods and the potential for further littering as bags are torn open.

Three trucks broken down

Cllr Salem Abdool, who also serves on the Endumeni Municipality executive committee, told the Courier that he had received an explanation from the manager responsible for refuse collection.

According to Abdool, three of the municipality’s five refuse trucks have broken down, while the remaining two have been taken off the road because their licences have expired.

“I am told that they are battling to source spares for the three broken trucks because these are old models,” he said.

“With the other two vehicles, I am waiting for the responsible person to account as to why they did not have updated licences.”

Tractor and trailer may provide temporary relief

Abdool said efforts were being made to address the immediate backlog, with hopes that a tractor and trailer could be brought in to assist with collecting some of the refuse bags lying around the municipal area.

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