The non maintenance of dumpsites across Boksburg’s informal settlements have caused concerns for residents living in these areas.
The Advertiser recently visited the dumpsites in Ramaphosa, Delmore and Angelo informal settlements and found that they were in a terrible state. The smell of rotten food and other refuse is overbearing.
It is understood those working at these sites put down their working tools since the beginning of June due to non-payment. Speaking to the Advertiser under anonymity, the workers said they haven’t been paid by the contractor since April.
“In June, we were paid R2 000, which was not our usual salary and considering that there were other months that were still outstanding. Up until now we haven’t been paid and we have vowed not to work until we get paid,” one of the affected workers said.
They said they are owed about R11 550 per member. In July, they mobilised themselves and gathered at the Boksburg Civic Centre to hand over a memorandum. One of the workers said when she started working in 2013, everything was fine until a new contractor was appointed.
They further highlighted that they were hired due to the overcrowding of informal settlements which made it difficult for the Ekurhuleni waste trucks to navigate their way through these informal settlements.
“Residents were then advised to take their rubbish to these dumpsites so that we can clean and collect the waste from these dumpsites. In Delmore and Angelo, there are about 11 dumpsites and about 10 people are hired to clean the waste,” anonymous said.
Some of the affected workers from Angelo informal settlements complained that their funeral policies have lapsed and they haven’t been able to pay rent because they haven’t been earning for the past few months. They complained that since the coronavirus outbreak, they haven’t received PPEs.
One of the affected residents, Nonkululeko Hlatswayo from Angelo informal settlement said when she goes to do her hair at a salon close to one of the dumpsites she can hardly breath because of the bad smell.
The Advertiser sent numerous emails and WhatsApp messages to the contractor but was ignored. According to Nhlanhla Cebekhulu, the metro’s divisional head of communication, the workers referred to are employed by the service providers working in the area.
When asked if the metro knows why the workers were not paid he said the service providers will be able to respond to the question in terms of their existing contractual agreement with the people in question.
Cebekhulu highlighted that the affected people from the informal settlements have threatened to damage the equipment of service providers deployed in the area.
It is understood the cooperatives were engaged by the leadership of the area and utilising the equipment from the service provider began from August 5.
But according to the workers, some of them haven’t returned to work due to non payment.
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