RNM councillors demand action on poor waste management

CONCERNS over trash which is not being picked up by municipal workers in a number of communities were raised by some councillors at a Ray Nkonyeni Municipality council meeting held in its council chambers on Tuesday this week.

Councillors cited a number of places within the municipality that have become dumping sites and the lack of action taken by law enforcement and the waste department remained an issue.

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During council, a presentation on how the waste department plans to manage waste in the next financial year was made by waste manager Yandisa Mhlamvu.

However, in heated conversations, councillors said ‘talk was cheap’ and that it was high time officials started putting their money where their mouth was.

“Glorious service delivery presentations made by municipal officials to council don’t make a difference to communities that desperately need services, if the plans are not implemented,” said Gamalakhe Ward 5 councillor, Phumlani Gumbi.

Cllr Gumbi said that poor waste management within the municipality posed a great health hazard to communities, as well as the environment and it should therefore be prioritised.

He also said they were tired of empty promises from municipal officials and urged them to implement whatever plans they have.

His colleague, Councillor George Henderson, said Masinenge informal dwellings needed urgent attention as the state of waste management in the area was appalling.

He also urged officials to focus on waste education more in order to curb littering.

Councillor Selvan Chetty added that, while they applauded the work done by the waste team, a lot still needed to be done by law enforcement; culprits needed to be caught and brought to book.

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