SEDIBENG.- The cash scrapped Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) is spending an average of R810 000.00 monthly on overtime for waste removal employees while refuse removal services have completely collapsed, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed.

The party said that there is nothing to show for the overtime money that is being paid to the waste removal employees as months pass without refuse being collected in Emfuleni. DA’s Kingsol Chabalalala said that it is extremely concerning that the waste removal employees are paid exorbitant overtime while Emfuleni townships and suburbs are dirty which poses a health risk to the residents.

“This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile in a written reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). According to MEC Maile, Emfuleni is spending an average of R810 000.00 on monthly overtime for waste removal employees and has a monthly salary bill on average of R1 345 780.00 for waste removal employees.

In the last five financial years, Emfuleni has spent R40 million on overtime for waste removal employees.”