Residents of Ward 73 suffer under inconsistent waste collection in Ekurhuleni

by Cllr. Sinethemba Matiwane — DA Councillor in Ward 73, Ekurhuleni

Date: 29 April 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

Residents of Ward 73 in Ekurhuleni have been left frustrated by the lack of refuse collection from the ANC-led City’s Waste Department. The breakdown in service delivery has meant that refuse collection has deteriorated and is inconsistent at best.

The inconsistency means that frustrated residents of Benoni CBD, Apex, Mackenzie Ward, New Modder, Msholozi Informal Settlement and other surrounding areas, many of whom are disabled and elderly, have to take out their wheelie bins in the hope they will be collected, only to be left frustrated when they have to bring them back inside filled with uncollected refuse. In the meantime, waste continues to build up posing a major health hazard for the community.

Equally frustrating has been the lack of communication from the Department who have failed to provide any reason as to why refuse bins have not been collected, nor provide an indication as to when they will be collected. This despite numerous unanswered requests to the ANC-appointed MMC for Environmental Resource and Waste Management Services, Ald. Khosi Mabaso, as well as the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Mzwandile Masina, to resume normal waste collection services.

Vagrants and zama-zamas are taking advantage of the situation by stealing the wheelie bins, while illegal dumping has increased dramatically in the community as residents have no other options in disposing of their mounting waste.

It is completely unacceptable that the ANC-led Coalition* in the City of Ekurhuleni does not provide these basic services to rate-paying residents in the City. Benoni’s tax collection rate stands at an above-average 96% as reported in March 2021, yet services continue to decline. Unfortunately, Ward 73 is not unique in this regard, as many communities suffer from a lack of refuse collection due to gross mismanagement by the Department resulting in massive waste collection backlogs.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni calls on the Department of Waste to provide a clear weekly waste collection schedule that is communicated consistently and unambiguously. Should challenges be encountered, the nature of them to need to be timeously communicated to the Ward councillor and residents.

In addition, the Party will continue to put pressure on the Department to ensure that the rate-paying residents of Ward 73 receive the services they deserve.

*Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)

Cllr. Sinethemba Matiwane

DA Councillor in Ward 73, Ekurhuleni