Concerns over wheelie bin damage and theft in Ekurhuleni
By Ald. Tracey Lourenco: City of Ekurhuleni Ward 104 Councillor
Date:17 February 2025
Release: Immediate
The rollout of wheelie bins across all Customer Care areas in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has been met with several challenges ranging from the unavailability of bins to cumbersome bureaucratic hurdles needed to be jumped to obtain a bin.
Coupled with this, are countless complaints from residents’ bins being damaged or stolen, despite their best efforts to safeguard them.
Many of these complaints indicate that refuse workers are often responsible for the damage, with reports of bins being carelessly thrown around instead of being handled with care.
This reckless behaviour not only inconveniences residents but also shows a lack of regard for City of Ekurhuleni property from its own employees.
In response to questions posed to the MMC for Environmental Resources and Waste Management, Cllr Leshaka Manamela, the following alarming statistics were revealed:
• In the past three years, 29,525 bins were replaced due to theft across all customer care centers, with 5,795 of these from the Northern region alone.
• The total cost of replacing stolen bins amounted to R14,536,369.83.
• Additionally, 11,824 bins had to be replaced due to damage, costing the city R5,902,076.28.
While the MMC and department claim that most bin breakages are not due to staff negligence the lived experience of residents tells a different story.
Many residents in my ward have provided clear evidence that some workers mishandle bins, leading to unnecessary damage. When bins are destroyed through abuse, the cost of replacement falls on the shoulders of residents — regardless of an affidavit from the South African Police Service (SAPS) attesting to the fact that it was not them who damaged it.
It is crucial that staff receive proper training regarding the correct handling of bins to prevent continued breakages.
Furthermore, those found deliberately damaging CoE property must be held to account.
The City must take urgent action to address these issues and ensure that waste management services are conducted with the professionalism and efficiency that residents deserve.
Media Enquiries:
Ald. Tracey Lourenco
City of Ekurhuleni Ward 104 Councillor
082 4512255
