HIGHVELD – With only nine out of 22 refuse trucks available, Govan Mbeki Municipality has seen a huge backlog with refuse removals within the areas.
According to GMM this is due to mechanical breakdown of compactor trucks and punctures.
For some areas, refuse had not been collected for more than two weeks and had been causing a stench.
In response to questions presented to Mr Benzi Soko, head of communications, he explained: “The Municipality is facing challenges of adhering to the refuse collection schedule due to high downtime of refuse compactor trucks which affects the day to day collection of refuse.
“More than fifty per cent of the compactor trucks are booked at the workshop for repairs.”
It was said that the municipality has procured three new refuse compactor trucks which will soon be delivered.
“These trucks will assist to alleviate the non-collection of refuse in Govan Mbeki Municipality.”
For residents and businesses this can hopefully bring some relief .
However it is also up to the public to play an important role to help GMM in the upkeep of the community and neighbourhood.
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The Ridge Times recently reported on the bad state of Wilton Nkwayi Road in Evander. Upon doing the story the reporter came across a policeman illegally dumping refuse in an open veld and setting his refuse alight, this all next to houses.
In a recent rant, a local resident Ms Jodene Martin took to social media and called out residents for dumping building rubble and refuse.
As a resident of Evander all her life, she shared her message: “We always moan about our town, the electricity, water… But this, this is not the government’s fault, this is not Govan Mbeki’s fault,” said Ms Martin. She took a video and shared it to a local Facebook community page.
She called out businesses for dumping building rubble although they are being paid to render services.
“Guys that build, why are you doing this? You get money for what you do and you come and illegally dump it here.
“This is residents of Evander, we stay here, we are too lazy to drive to dumping sites and dump our rubbish so all we do is drive up here and dump it.
“It is time we as residents do something about this. Stop illegal dumping and start getting our town clean again.”
GMM currently has four landfill sites. These sites are in Bethal, Secunda, Kinross and Leandra.
Those who are able to take refuse on their own to the landfill site can do so.
“Those who cannot take their waste to the landfill site, must keep their waste properly contained until it is removed by the municipality,” said the municipality.
