Durban North businessman capitalises on strike
Although businessmen have offered their services to remove rubbish bags from premises, they are concerned about being targeted by protesting workers.
WHILE services from the eThekwini Municipality Cleansing and Solid Waste have come to a grinding halt due to protesting staff, the strike has certainly awoken the ‘businessman’ in several locals who have offered a garbage collection service to residents in various areas across Durban.
Also read: City opens landfill sites to the public
One of these businessmen, who has been removing garden waste from complexes from Waterfall to Durban North for the past 20 years, agreed to speak to Northglen News anonymously in fear of being victimised by protesting workers.
“We were out on our usual business collecting garden refuse when residents would approach my staff and ask if we would consider collecting their rubbish bags, as well. They had no plan B, and maggots were forming, so I decided to collect rubbish bags at R10 to R15 per bag, depending on the area. We took the bags to the Illovo dump yard, so travel costs had to be factored into the price. There is also a fee at certain dump yards,” he said.
The businessman added that the service was not only offered as a means to make money but also to assist the community and take care of the environment.
“Other than maggots, the garbage could also attract rats. People could also become sick from this which will add to the problem. My staff and I have also taken a huge risk transporting the rubbish bags to the dump yard as we could also get ill and pass the sickness on to our families. We do use gloves and masks, but it is still a risk. The major concern is our safety, as well, as we have heard about drivers being attacked,” he added.
In the meantime, the City has allowed residents and businesses to bring a bakkie load of waste to certain landfill sites in Durban until the service resumes.
The following landfill sites are available for residents to use:
1. Mariannhill Landfill Site – 1 Landfill Lane, Mariannhill
2. Bisasar Road Landfill Site – 1 Dhulam Road, Springfield
3. Buffelsdraai Landfill Site – 1 Buffelsdraai Lane, Iqadi Farm, Verulam
4. Illovu Landfill Site – Off D982 Illovo Farm, Lower Illovo
Operational hours are Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 16:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 07:00 to 15:30.
*Editor’s note: While it is not Caxton Local Media’s policy to quote anonymous sources, we have made an exception for this story as requested by the source in order to protect him and his staff.
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