The metro is determined to forge ahead with uncompromisingly stringent refuse removal contract specifications, despite being at loggerheads with the now former subcontractors.
The dispute between the metro and former subcontractors started when Tshwane introduced a catch-up plan for household waste collection following collection disruptions with the appointment of new service providers on July 15.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the unwavering stance by the metro, while intended to enforce high standards of refuse collection, brought them to a disagreement with subcontractors.
“This set the stage for a tense standoff that would put the very quality of waste management services on the line.”
Bokaba said in the aftermath of the uproar occasioned by the awarding of a waste management tender last week, the city wishes to make it clear that it will not relax the tightened specification for the refuse removal contract.
“The metro implemented the SS01 waste removal contract with effect from July 15, after the tender had been approved by the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).”
Tshwane reviewed and tightened the specifications this time round to improve the efficiency of the service, based on the lessons learnt from previous tenders awarded.
The specifications included the following three new conditions:
– E-Natis valid certificate to verify the roadworthiness of the vehicle, to present the vehicle on-site, and to ensure that the vehicle certificate is not fraudulent.
– Installation of a tracking device to verify that the allocated routes have been travelled.
– The vehicle should not be older than nine years – to prevent the frequent breakdown of an old vehicle and to minimise the wear and tear of the compaction mechanism.
The specifications will also apply to the subcontractors.
“Tshwane benchmarked with other metros in Gauteng when considering the refuse removal specifications and discovered that Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg required vehicles not to be older than three years and five years, respectively.”
Furthermore, the metro added the following requirements in the specification in respect of subcontracting:
– The service provider may not subcontract the whole or any portion of the service without prior consent of the metro.
– If the service provider wishes to subcontract, it should apply in writing to the city for consent. In its application, the service provider shall furnish the name of the subcontractor, the subcontractor’s obligations, including fees payable and a security background check as well as their financial status.
– The city may, in its sole and absolute discretion, refuse consent to subcontract.
– The service provider shall ensure that the subcontractor’s B-BBEE level is equal to or better than that of the service provider, their price is competitive and can provide the service.
– Such subcontracting shall not absolve the service provider from responsibility for achieving the service levels or complying with its obligations.
– The service provider shall always remain the sole point of contact for the city in respect to the acquisition of services by the city; and
– No such subcontracting shall have any effect on the contract price and charges payable by the city to the service provider in terms of the agreement.
Bokaba said given the abovementioned control measures, the relevant department requested the appointed service providers to avail information in preparation for the final deployment of the required vehicles.
“Some of the service providers were unable to provide the required documents, while others managed to do so. However, in certain instances, some of the service providers did not comply with the required specifications.”
He said on the first day of deployment, vehicles were inspected, and only qualifying ones were allowed to work.
Bokaba said many of the subcontractors were not willing to adhere to the subcontracting conditions, and instead, opted to block some of the landfill sites and escalated the level of intimidation.
“To respond to this, Tshwane vowed to adopt a no-nonsense approach and clamp down harshly on criminal elements who are targeting waste collection trucks.”
He said the city is on high alert and is monitoring the waste management environment closely following reports of intimidation and threats directed at some of the city’s officials, disruption of collection operations as well as attacks on waste trucks.
He said a truck belonging to a waste service contractor was pelted with stones on Friday in Mamelodi en route to the Hatherley landfill site to dispose of waste.
“Approximately 60% of the previous waste contractors have not made it back onto the new tender owing to the stringent specifications aimed at improving efficiency.”
Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler said the municipality will not hesitate to unleash law enforcement against criminal elements hellbent on causing chaos and disrupting waste operations.
“I have given strict instructions to TMPD to adopt a no-nonsense approach to all instances of unlawful and criminal actions. We are monitoring the situation carefully and are ready to deploy at maximum strength,” Mettler said.
Mettler added that the age requirement of the waste removal vehicles was anchored on the fleet management policy of the city.
“The introduction of the new service providers is expected to stabilise the city’s waste collection system and improve efficiency,” Mettler said.
Residents experiencing delays with their waste collection, should send an email to wastemanagement@tshwane.gov.za or call 012 358 9999.
ALSO READ: Tshwane to deploy guards to secure Mams reservoir
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
