Private contractors unhappy with municipal employees

Employees of Bambanani Waste Management and Aqua Waste Management companies protested outside the gates of the Ekurhuleni Waste Management Depot in Springs on Tuesday, March 22.
This followed clashes between municipal and private contractor employees.
“We were told not to come back to the site on March 21. The metro’s employees chased us out of the depot,” claimed one of the protestors.
This came as a shock to them because according to their contracts they will work at the depot until June 2022.
They were further surprised when the vehicles from their companies were allowed on the depot premises.
“The trucks and their drivers continued to work but we were not allowed to work. The municipal workers said that we are stealing jobs.
“Our concern is that if we do not work, we will not get paid for those days,” she added.

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The City of Ekurhuleni confirmed there have been clashes between municipal employees and the service provider’s employees at the depot.
“This is due to a misunderstanding of their contract. The City hires vehicles with crew only if there is a shortage of municipal employees,” explained Zweli Dlamini, the City’s spokesperson.
He said that Bambanani and Aqua are part of the companies that received tenders to assist the municipality with waste management.
This after it recognised the need to address the issue of constant shortages of resources in waste management.
Their contracts started on January 31, 2020 and will end on June 30, 2022.
“The metro is in the process of initiating a new contract for the provision of specialised vehicles and support services on an as and when required basis,” added Dlamini.

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