Problems at Mpuma Waste Buy-Back Centre
This day presents with it an opportunity for Mpuma Waste to reaffirm their commitment to making this business a great success
Mr Godfrey Malaza of Mpuma Waste Buy-Back Centre alleges that BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA) is not keeping to their promises they made during the re-launch of the centre in October last year (2014).
During the launch, BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA), Emalahleni Local Municipality and Department of Environmental Affairs were present when the promises were made of a co-operative which focuses on collecting, sorting, weighing and selling reclaimable waste for the benefit of the environment.
BECSA Asset president Mr Jon Evans was quoted saying that BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA), will invest close to R1-million and that the re-launch will mark a new beginning for Mpuma Waste Buy-Back Centre which now has a completed office block, a bigger working area which will increase production volumes from 13 000 to approximately 35 000 tonnes per month.
Mr Evans was also quoted saying that the centre has created six permanent jobs and is generating income for 50 informal waste recyclers who collect and deliver waste to the buy-back facility.
“This day presents with it an opportunity for Mpuma Waste to reaffirm their commitment to making this business a great success. BECSA’s involvement with the centre and its activities is based on the company’s genuine desire to work with communities in a sustainable way and engender responsible environment stewardship. BECSA is committed to enterprise development and will continue to support Mpuma Waste Buy Back Centre towards reaching its full potential,” stated Mr Evans.
In view of the above promises together with a promise of two Toyota vans, these were never fulfilled according to Mr Malaza.
Former executive mayor of Emalahleni, Ms Salome Sithole and BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA) Asset president, Mr Jon Evans, unveiling the plaque at the Mpuma Waste Buy-back Centre last year in October.
It is further stated by Mr Malaza that a commitment was made that BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA) will support the centre until Phase Three of the project is complete.
Mr Andrew Modise and Mr Christian Peters were delegated to oversee that 40 permanent jobs were created at the centre to alleviate poverty in the surrounding areas of eMalahleni.
It is alleged that several meetings were held but nothing positive has come out of those meetings.
Presently Mr Malaza has six out of twenty remaining workers working under him.
A questionnaire about promises that were made but allegedly not fulfilled by BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA) was then sent to them seeking clarity and no response was received.
