Doreen Mokgolo
The city of Ekurhuleni is literally a dump.
Now frustrated residents are threatening to dump their uncollected garbage at the Metro offices.
For weeks on end the Metro has been failing to collect rubbish in their townships and suburbs, leaving desperate residents to dump their dirt at illegal dumping sites in their areas.
This was initially attributed to the shortage of trucks which are used to collect rubbish.
As it stands, landfills are overflowing and have since been locked, leaving desperate residents to dump rubbish at every available space they can find.
In July a statement from the Metro, spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the Metro has brought in additional refuse removal trucks to tackle the backlog.
“These additional vehicles will supplement those supplied by service providers contracted to the city to speedily address the challenges experienced across the city,” he explained.
The problem has persisted to date and contractors have now downed tools due to non-payment of invoices.
Ward 77 councillor Thulane Dunjana explained that he was informed by the company that’s contracted to collect waste in Kwa-Thema that they will not be rendering services in Duduza,
Tsakani or Kwa-Thema due to a shortage of diesel.
“They have since downed tools due to the non-payment of invoices,” he said.
A concerned resident, Thabo Matsena, said they are frustrated at how the Metro is unable to fulfil their responsibilities to the residents of Ekurhuleni to collect rubbish.
“Our wheelie bins are full to the brim; we have now resorted to using the black refuse bags, which we were told will not be collected.
“We are forced to take the rubbish to the door steps of the overflowing landfills; we are not considering taking the rubbish to the city council,” he added.
Dlamini said the Metro has made arrangements for the removal of the excess waste and that work is expected within a week.
Pictured above: Illegal dumping site in Daggafontein in Springs
