City working on garden site backlog
Trucks had to be used at other sites to clear their backlog as the city battled illegal dumping earlier in the year.
While residents near the Rooihuiskraal garden refuse site can breathe a sigh of relief now that the piles of waste illegally dumped outside the site have been removed, the chaos inside remains a headache for its users.
When Rekord visited the site on November 17, the garbage outside had been cleared while trucks removed refuse.
However, some users say they have been asked to take their refuse to Mooiplaats dumpsite because Rooihuiskraal was still struggling to clear the backlog inside.
A resident near the site, JJ Van Rensburg, said there had been improvement.
“After the dump next to the road fiasco, there is definitely an improvement,” he said.
“Residents with garden refuse are still referred to the Mooiplaats dump site. Is it operational? You tell me.”
A report explains that the garden sites are expected to be cleared soon.
According to a report published on social media, MMC for environment and agriculture management, Ziyanda Zwane said Tshwane anticipated the backlog would be cleared by December 8.
“The department is currently trying its best to make use of the limited resources to address the backlog. However it is quite clear that given the limited resources due to budget constraints, the work is unable to move as swiftly as anticipated,” the report read.
The site has been a thorn in the side of residents, who at the beginning of the year complained of the terrible smell making its way into their homes.
As the illegal strike began to grip the city in July, mountains of trash were illegally dumped by unscrupulous residents and business owners.
At one point the heaps were topping the boundary walls of nearby estate residents.
Residents said the mixed garden and household waste dumped was a health hazard. This attracted flies to their houses, while the mounds of trash regularly caught alight.
“Most of the city’s garden refuse sites are currently overwhelmed due to the backlog that was created by the disruption of service emanating from the illegal strike that lasted about three months,” read the report.
It said the backlog was so huge that clearing it had taken longer than expected.
“The department anticipates progress to be visible at Rooihuiskraal from next week.”
Rekord is awaiting a Tshwane comment, which will be published when it becomes available.
Local ward councillor Cindy Billson visited the site with the MMC. This after she said the relevant officials had not provided her with answers.
“The MMC noted that he will direct a formal memo on managing the current situation. He is, however, convinced, like me, that this relates to bad management,” said Billson.
“In the meantime please direct all complaints to customers@tshwane.gov.za.”
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