ILLEGAL strike action by Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) over the past week caused service interruptions in the Durban Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit (DSW).
Mandla Nsele, eThekwini Municipality’s Acting Head of Communications, said refuse service collection and street sweeping in and around Durban had been affected.
Although 90 per cent of rubbish was collected in the Glenwood and Umbilo area at the weekend, Councillor Mmabatho Tembe reported on Monday that EPWP were striking again, and that this would cause further delays to collection.
“Our district manager tries to get trucks out as much as possible, but there are backlogs as well as residents’ dumping, which still need to be collected,” she said.
ALSO READ: Continuous DSW strikes frustrate Durban councillors
Commenting on the issue, DA eThekwini councillor Sithembiso Ngema, said the party had urged Human Settlements and Infrastructure committee chairperson, Thanduxolo Sabelo, to address the strike.
“Several communities and residents failed to have their refuse collected. A series of conversations with DSW staff revealed that EPWP beneficiaries decided to voice their concerns by locking Durban Solid Waste employees inside their depots. The reason for the protest action and decision to disrupt the delivery of basic services is still unknown,” said Ngema.
Meanwhile, Nsele said DSW was doing all it could to resolve the issues as speedily as possible for service to return to normal. “The municipality apologises for the inconvenience caused,” he said.
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