SECUNDA – Residents still think it is unsafe to go to the local rubbish dump, because many residents have been assaulted there.
Residents who was assaulted, said scavengers run after their vehicles when the enter the dumping site, especially if they have valuable rubbish like steel on their vehicles.
They then try to get the steel off from the vehicle while it is still moving and often damage the vehicle in the process.
When the Echo and Ridge Times reported about the issue previously, the head of marketing and communications of the Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Henry Masango, said Interwaste was the service provider and that things would be in place as soon as Interwaste took over.
However security control and the illegal scavengers are still the main problems at the rubbish dump.
Mr Masango refused to answer the newspaper’s questions about rumours that Interwaste was not paid and are no longer the service provider.
He again said that the situation at the rubbish dump will improve and that all the people at the rubbish dump will be removed and only a small number of authorised reclaimers and people from the community disposing of waste, will be allowed.
This was also one of the terms when Interwaste was appointed earlier this year.
Mr Masango also refused to answer the newspapers’s question about what had happened to Interwaste and whether Interwaste is still the current service provider.
He only said: “The bid for the operation and maintenance of the Secunda landfill site has not been finalised.
“Sasol is not going to take over the operation of the site, however, the municipality and Ikusasa are working together to find solutions to improve the security and access control.
“Security is being heightened to ensure public safety, while negotiations are being finalised.
“The current service provider is continuing pending the appointment of a new entity.”
