Ekurhuleni waste crisis becomes unsustainable

The latest solid waste crisis to hit the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) lays bare the leadership problems inherent within the ANC-led administration.

This is according to the DA in Ekurhuleni, who has blamed particularly the Environmental Resource and Waste Management Department under MMC Khosi Mabaso, and the head of department, Faith Wotshela.

Councillor Tiaan Kotzé, DA deputy shadow MMC for Environment, Resource and Waste Management in Ekurhuleni, has claimed that due to bad planning and mismanagement only one of the five landfill sites in Ekurhuleni has been left operational to service the 3.7 million residents’ solid waste disposal needs.

“Both the Rietfontein and Rooikraal landfill sites are closed due to contract lapses with service providers, while the Simmer and Jack Landfill sites, following a week-long fire in September 2020, remains non-operational following the appointment of a new contractor,” said Kotzé.

“Furthermore, the security guards at the Weltevreden site embarked on strike action over non-payment from the site contractor, leading to the facility being shut down.

“Subsequently, the City is left with the Platkop Landill Site close to Heidelberg, causing massive delays in scheduled waste collection and a substantial decrease in collection, resulting in an increase in illegal dumping across the metro.

“The knock-on effect on smaller transfer stations has been unbearable, with waste clearance turnaround times lagging, resulting in intolerable conditions as waste continues to pile up unabated.

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“Meanwhile, waste continues to be dumped outside of the transfer station’s gates due to them reaching capacity and closing, ultimately resulting in additional costs incurred by the Council in cleaning up the excess waste.”

The DA in Ekurhuleni considers this unacceptable.

“Both Mabaso and Wotshela need to take accountability and urgently work to restore these closed landfill sites across the City to full operation as the situation has now become unsustainable,” said Kotzé.

“Furthermore, during the ongoing pandemic it is imperative for the City to maintain high standards of hygiene regarding waste management.

“Waste management has the potential to play a massive role in economic development and job creation if utilised sustainably and managed as a strategic resource.

“The integrated beneficiation and recycling of waste at the source has the potential to be a major economic driver that benefits both the environment and the City’s ratepayers.

“The DA has been, and will continue, to place constant pressure on the department to deliver effective services to Ekurhuleni’s residents.”

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