The areas of Morehill, Kingsway, Mackenzie Park, Actonville, Brentwood Park, Lakefield and most of Ward 24 still experienced problems with garbage collection on October 20.
Ward 24, represented by Clr Kabelo Mahonko, includes Crystal Park, Cloverdene, Van Ryn Small Holdings, Fairleads and parts of Rynfield.
Clr Jacques Meiring (Ward 27) said waste removal services have skipped several areas in Benoni, as far back as the past month.
“We’ve been told workers were deliberately working slowly, to increase their overtime pay,” he added.
“Now, the department has stopped that, meaning everyone has to stop working at normal knock-off time. This is causing a massive backlog issue.”
According to Clr Malanie Haggard (Ward 28), the lack of communication between the department and the councillors is the biggest frustration.
“We are being inundated with calls from the public, asking us what’s going on,” she said.
“We can’t give the public answers, because the department doesn’t inform us.”
“We’re not expecting council to do everything at once. If they have internal staff issues, let them deal with it – but simply communicate with us, so we can communicate with our residents.”
Clr Sinethemba Matiwane (Ward 73) said: “They were supposed to service my areas last week, but some were skipped.”
“The department said the backlog would be cleared by October 15, which didn’t happen.”
Mahonko said: “We receive no communications from the metro; we need clarity on the matter.”
“If the rubbish isn’t picked up during the day, people are afraid to leave out their bins, as it might be stolen.”
Clr Haseena Ismail (Ward 29) said two weeks’ refuse in Actonville hadn’t been collected on October 20.
“As a result of the refuse not being collected, the suburb becomes a dumping area – more and more waste is being dumped illegally now,” Ismail added.
“It’s becoming a health and environmental hazard.”
According to Clr André du Plessis (Ward 23), the waste depots in Ekurhuleni are not being run properly.
“The situation in Brentwood Park is a disaster,” he said on October 20.
“The head of department (waste management) said they spoke to the employees and avoided a strike. Hopefully the backlog will be cleared during this weekend (October 23).”
After not being picked up the previous week, the refuse in Marister and Benoni Agricultural Holdings was collected by October 18, according to Ward 25 councillor, Pieter Henning.
He said his ward experienced no further problems.
A Western Extension resident said her refuse, which was scheduled to be picked up the previous Thursday, hadn’t yet been collected on Wednesday October 19.
“I’m thoroughly disgusted; if we don’t pay our rates on time, they (metro) come down on us, but they’re not collecting the refuse on time,” ‘vented’ the woman, who wished to remain anonymous.
Comment from the metro was not forthcoming at the time of publishing.
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