The Tshwane Metro has announced the implementation of a waste collection backlog clearance plan in Region 6, effective Wednesday, August 14.
Region 6 includes Nellmapius, Mamelodi, Jan Niemand Park, Mahube Valley, Moreleta Park, Silver Lakes and Mooikloof.
The plan is to address the severe disruptions caused by previous refuse service providers.
According to Tshwane spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, the usual waste collection schedule has been badly impacted in Region 6 since the new waste management service providers took over on July 15.
Bokaba said service by the the new providers was delayed while they familiarised themselves with routes then by threats and violence against at landfill sites.
“Last week, former service providers’ workers went on a violent rampage, storming the municipal building in Mamelodi West, hurling a petrol bomb, and smashing windows,” said Bokaba.
He added that the traumatic incident left employees shaken, requiring them to undergo counselling.
“Bronkhorstpruit, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville have encountered the worst form of intimidation and threats directed at the new service providers and at landfill sites,” he said.
Bokaba said to adress the backlog, locals are urged to leave their bins outside and Tshwane will catch-up between Wednesday and Sunday.
City manager Johann Mettler has vowed not give in to the demands of the former service providers and their workers.
Mettler stated Tshwane would not surrender to the threats by some of the previous service providers who did not meet the new requirements.
He said they have now identified the instigators and will act against them.
“We will continue with the deployment of law enforcement officers along the identified routes and at landfill sites to thwart their planned criminal activities,” Mettler said.
“The city implemented the SS01 waste removal contract with effect from July 15, after the tender had been approved by the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).”
Mettler said they reviewed and tightened the specification to improve efficiency of the service, based on the lessons learnt from previous tenders.
According to him, the tender process was fair, open and transparent.
He said the specifications included these new conditions:
– E-Natis valid certificate to verify the roadworthiness of the vehicle, to present the vehicle on-site, and to ensure 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.
“Tshwane benchmarked with other metros in Gauteng when considering the refuse removal specification and discovered that Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg required vehicles not to be older than three years and five years, respectively,” added Mettler.
He said Tshwane added the following requirements to the sub-contracting specifications:
– The service provider may not subcontract whole or any portion of the service without prior consent of the city.
– In the event the service provider wishes to subcontract, it shall apply in writing to the city for consent to do so.
– 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 or better than that of the service provider, their price is competitive and have the capacity to 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 of the acquisition of services by the city.
– No such subcontracting shall have any effect on the contract price.
– Charges are payable by Tshwane to the service provider in terms of the agreement.
In view of 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.
Mettler said some of the service providers were unable to provide the required documents, while others managed to do so.
He added that however, in certain instances, some of the service providers did not follow the required specifications.
“On the first day of deployment, vehicles were inspected, and only qualifying ones were allowed to work,” he said.
“However, many of the sub-contractors were not willing to adhere to the sub-contracting conditions, and instead, opted to block some of the landfill sites and escalated the level of intimidation.”
Mettler said 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.
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