Imran Rafique had a holder put up outside his property to prevent his refuse bags being ripped open by stray dogs.
Last week, after metro workers came to remove the refuse, Rafique found the steel frame had been broken and blames the metro for it.
“There are so many refuse holders down the street, not only in Bakerton, but all over town, why did my holder need to be broken,” says Rafique.
He took this up with the metro by contacting Christo Fourie who in turn said the pavement is council property and it is illegal to put anything up there.
During an inspection by an official of the Springs Waste Management Services it was found that the refuse holder was lying on the side walk.
It was also noticed that part of the pole was still in the ground and that the pole was rusted and had probably broken off at the weak spot.
“The erecting of these refuse holders is, however, not permitted according to the metro’s solid waste bylaws and refuse bags should be placed on the side walk on the day of collection,” says Mandlakazi Mpahlwa-Sigcawu, metro spokesman.
Mpahlwa-Sigcawu states these refuse holders were, however, allowed during the existence of the Springs Town Council and therefor the residents were not asked to remove them.
He said the Ekurhuleni metro is not liable for replacing damaged refuse holders as it is actually a transgression of the current bylaws.
Rafique is not happy with the outcome and says he will have to pay someone to have it repaired.
