The Democratic Alliance believes the Waste Department of Ekurhuleni is guilty of gross mismanagement and incompetence, which has resulted in failed refuse removal services, a filthy environment and shocking human conditions at the ”Plastic City” squatter camp in Brakpan.
The litany of problems are self-inflicted, according to the DA’s mayor-elect, Ghaleb Cachalia, who visited Plastic City, opposite the Weltevreden Landfill Site, on Tuesday, last week.
He was briefed by the party’s spokesperson on waste, Clr Gary Scallan.
Scallan pointed out that, for the third consecutive quarter, no environmental audit has been conducted at any of the five landfill sites throughout Ekurhuleni.
In terms of Section 11.4 of the National Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by Landfill, including Weltevreden, audits should occur at three-month intervals for large sites such as those found in Ekurhuleni.
“Simply put, the waste department forgot to renew the tender for the auditors,” said Scallan.
“This is in direct contravention of its own resolution that all tenders be advertised and filled three months prior to the expiry of existing contracts.”
Scallan also stated the following as failed resolutions by the Waste Department:
• the conclusion of the rolling out of the 240l wheelie bins by the end of June 2016,
• the supply of blue plastic bags to all households to encourage recycling, and
• the development of an e-waste plan for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
Scallan stated that the municipality has a record of barely enforcing any by-laws whatsoever, so it comes as no surprise that the Solid Waste By-Laws, clause 21.4, which specifically states “No person shall enter a landfill site or refuse transfer station or mini disposal site with the purpose of scavenging”, is being completely ignored.
Cachalia is appalled that thousands of people living in Plastic City and suburban Brakpan have to endure and breathe the poisonous gasses emitted by the illegal burning of plastic and e-waste inside the squatter camp.
The DA reportedly warned that the people who had set up shacks would soon number thousands and prove difficult to move.
This has come to pass, yet the governing party refuses to confront the problem by identifying suitable land, providing basic services and moving the Plastic City community.
“Even harder to grasp, is the governing party’s utter contempt for the environment, even while it celebrates Africa Day with gusto and boasts about Ekurhuleni being a thriving aerotropolis that attracts investors,” said Cachalia.
Scallan has submitted petitions to each sphere of government (Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province and Parliament) to request an investigation of the legality of waste activities within the Weltevreden Landfill Site, which is in contravention of Sections 16 and 26 of the Waste Management Act.
Also read: Rubbish and squatters aplently
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