Bethal dumping site is still closed

HIGHVELD – The dumping site in Bethal is still closed.

Though Govan Mbeki Municipality paid a portion of the R1.2 million that they owe to the contractor, the contractor is refusing to reopen the dumping site until the municipality has paid at least half of the amount in arrears.

The Ridge Times asked the municipality’s communications department and the municipal manager, Mr Thisha Mhlanga, for comment.

Mr Bheki Khubeka, head of marketing and communications, said: “The service provider has since been paid and the municipality will remove the waste on the road for accessibility to the landfill site.”

The newspaper again asked him on Friday, 23 March whether the full amount was paid, and if so, why the dumping site was still closed, but he did not respond at time of going to the press.

Ms Marietjie Fourie, DA councillor, handed in a motion over the refuse removal on 27 February.

This motion will be discussed at the council meeting on 28 March.

Refuse removal is also still a problem in Bethal because one of the refuse removal trucks was in an accident recently and one of the other trucks broke down.

The only truck available to remove refuse on 26 March was sent to eMinoni.

In Secunda, refuse was also not removed this week and Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, DA councillor, said residents must consider themselves lucky if their refuse is removed.

“Fixed trucks cannot be released from the service provider as the municipality’s account is closed because of non-payment,” said Ms Chamberlain.