ETHEKWENI municipality departments are starting to run out of plastic bags and the central stores are unable to supply.
That’s the word from ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.
“When the same problem manifested in the first quarter of this year, council approved emergency funding in terms of section 36 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to alleviate the problem,” said Cllr Beetge.
“This was with the understanding that Durban Solid Waste (DSW), as the supply custodians of plastic bags via Supply Chain Management (SCM), put the necessary contracts in place – which it would appear did not happen.”
The administration, however, does not appear to have learnt from its mistakes, as much the same scenario played out at the end of the 2014/15 financial year when new contracts were not finalised, but rather existing contracts extended in terms of section 116 of the MFMA.
“While the head of DSW was called to account by the Municipality Public Accounts Committee (Mpac) regarding the matter two weeks ago, the lack of forward planning by senior management is taking its toll and not least on the beaches where the recent storm succeeded in depleting stock levels,” said Cllr Beetge.
Following a discussion with local beach management, that is in charge from Isipingo to Umkomaas, on Monday, 20 June measures were put in place whereby rubbish bins and beach litter are collected in bulk using large tarpaulins which are in turn emptied into vehicles and deposited at disposal sites.
“Unfortunately the lack of plastic bags is not the only example of a dysfunctional municipality torn apart by internal political rivalry, as failing to secure contracts to attend overgrown verges, faulty street lights and failing infrastructure against the backdrop of political unrest, remains as a constant reminder of reality,” said Cllr Beetge.
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