Driving through Krugersdorp the past two weeks one would think the bins standing outside are part of some form of statement art. But alas, it is only because the refuse in Mogale City have not been removed on time.
Marie Bosman, a Mindalore resident explained the problem that she and many other Mogale City residents have been struggling with.
She said residents depend on their rubbish being collected on certain days, and when this doesn’t happen it has a domino effect that could lead to weeks of rubbish piling up while residents wait for it to be collected.
Marie said she places her dustbins outside every Monday, and if they are not emptied she needs to take them back inside as it creates a health hazard. The problem comes when residents are not made aware of when the rubbish will be collected, and if you miss the truck you sit with two weeks’ rubbish.
This seems to be happening every week now, and our dustbins are overflowing,” she said.
For Mogale City this actually has happened more than three times, and twice in the past few weeks.
The problem seems to arise from diesel payments not being made on time, as it allegedly takes three days for the diesel to be delivered after the payment was made.
The municipal staff then has to work overtime to get back on schedule, and some residents reported that their dustbins had been emptied long after sunset.
Ward 18 councillor, Andries Eksteen said when they ask for feedback on the matter they struggle to get a response. If they do, it is just generic answers like ‘Noted’ or ‘We will investigate’.
The problem is they do not inform you of the problem ahead of time,” he added.
Sometimes ward councillors are allegedly told there is no diesel for the trucks. The problem with the diesel allegedly goes much further than just the garbage trucks. The trucks the water and electricity departments use are also affected.
The News asked Norman Sedumedi, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance in Mogale City where the problem lies.
If residents of Mogale City pay their refuse, water and electricity bills on time as expected of them, wouldn’t it be fair if they expect the municipality to deliver these services to them on time?
Another issue raised was the health hazard the uncollected refuse would cause in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially since the West Rand has been identified as a Covid-19 hot spot.
Unfortunately, but not unexpected, no feedback was received.
