SECUNDA – The Govan Mbeki Municipality released five compactor trucks to the municipal waste management services on Friday, 18 January at the Secunda Library.
Two trucks have been allocated to the eMbalenhle and Charl Cilliers areas and one truck to Evander and Kinross, another truck to Bethal and eMzinoni and the final truck has been allocated to Secunda and Trichardt.
Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, said “I want to indicate that these trucks were purchased out of our own funds. It is us, it is not a grant, it is not a donation, it is our own money that we collect.”
The request to budget in the new financial year for more trucks was put to the municipal manager by Ms Ngxonono saying that the five trucks are not enough. More is needed.
She explained that the purchase of the trucks have taken the community back to 16 October 2017 when the resources of the municipality were compromised at eMbalenhle.
Ms Yvonne Strydom Coetzee asked on the municipality’s Facebook post, “I saw these trucks arrive about two months ago. Where were it all this time?”
It has been alleged that prior to the handing over of the trucks, they were in use.
Ms Ngxonono pleaded with the drivers of the trucks to take care of the trucks as though it is their own property to ensure the trucks remain in good condition.
According to Mr Benzi Soko, chief of staff, the trucks have three-year service plans in place to ensure they keep running.
“Even if you could bring 100, they won’t collect rubbish,” said Mr Sibusiso Sibanyoni on the Facebook post.
GMM waste services currently have 22 waste trucks, of which at least 12 -15 are fully operational.
A comment from another resident, Ms Pretty Sesi Mgidi on the Facebook page reads: “They won’t even come to collect rubbish.”
“The plan going forward is to have a system put in place where, should there be a delay with the picking up of refuse, the backlogs will be dealt with on a Saturday,” said Mr Hendrik van der Merwe, who is currently the acting director for community services.
Mr Soko confirmed that trackers have been fitted into all the new vehicles that were bought, together with other gadgets that alert the superiors of reckless driving and the use of vehicles for personal gain.
“There are disciplinary procedures in place to deal with those who use the municipality’s property inappropriately.
If the public sees these vehicles being misused, they must contact the numbers anonymously and those responsible, will be dealt with,” said Mr Soko.
Even though the overall response towards the municipality was negative, GMM received some positive reactions from the public via social media, where Mr Thulani Motha said:
“Good news really for our municipality. Hopefully we have 2 in my location.”
