DA appalled by weed spraying contract delays
Despite requesting information since the beginning of August as to when satisfactory service delivery will be afforded to residents, no response had been forthcoming.
THE Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini has said the lack of a municipal contract for weed spraying and grass cutting is unacceptable, especially during the rainy season.
Commenting on the issue, ward councillor Mmabatho Tembe said the DA has been following the numerous delays with regards to the weeds contract, and despite requesting information since the beginning of August as to when satisfactory service delivery will be afforded to residents, no response had been forthcoming.
“The Parks Recreation and Culture (PRC) Unit responded by saying that the contracts are still being revised and in the meantime, the department will be undertaking this specialised function over the weekends with only two teams being dispatched per district until a permanent contract is in place,” she said.
Tembe said the weed spraying contract ended last year and the PRC Unit has cited hitches within the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Department.
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“This is unacceptable as weed spraying is a necessary service in the city. The lack of planning and implementation within the Parks Departments need to be addressed by the City Manager, and this has been reported accordingly. Residents of the city are receiving sub-standard service delivery as the roads are a mess with weeds, growing at knee-high length creating a litter trap,” she said.
Tembe said she felt it was unrealistic to have two teams working per district as they cannot work fast enough to deal with the weeds that have grown over the year.
“Rates are paid and service delivery is not adhered to. Each ward receives the teams approximately once in a weekend every three months. This is not sustainable. This situation is totally unacceptable and DA members of the eThekwini Municipality Community Services Committee demand that the City Manager intervene as soon as possible in concluding a suitable and permanent weed spraying contract for all wards in the city,” she said.
The DA has requested an urgent meeting to discuss these matters for an outcome for the citizens of the municipality.
Responding to a request for comment, eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “We are in the process of evaluating new contracts, however, the City does have a three month extension of the grass cutting contract in process. Grass cutting across the city has not been affected. The Parks staff is also ensuring that weed spraying is also conducted.”
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