DSW workers ‘held hostage’ as part-time workers blockade Jacobs depot

Durban South enters it fourth day of uncollected household refuse, as part-time workers have blockaded the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) depot, barring anyone from carrying out their work.

Workers who had been employed on a part-time basis under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) have used refuse trucks to block the entrance to the DSW depot in Jacobs.

They are not allowing cars to enter or leave the premises.  According to ward 64 councillor, Gavin Hegter, the workers are demanding full-time jobs which was promised to them a month ago by the public works department. The programme was a directive of the national government as a city-wide, community-based initiative to give unemployed residents the benefit of work on a part-time basis.

The other side to this story is that of the frustrated full-time workers who are trapped in the depot, fearing for their lives as they are kept from leaving the premises in Collingwood Road, Jacobs.

The Southlands Sun journalist sat with full-time employees of DSW who asked not to be named, for fear of reprisals from their part-time counterparts. They say they are hostages in their own workplace. Although they understand the grievances of the part-time workers, they feel they are been treated unfairly. “We can’t get out, but we have to come to work, or it’s no work no pay,” said one worker. “Since  Tuesday this has been going on, and the areas this side of Durban suffers,” he added. The areas affected are Montclair, Clairwood, Wentworth, Jacobs and Bluff. As the garbage continues to pile up, the trucks stand idle in the yard of the depot.

“We will get threatened if we try to leave, they are all standing outside the gates. I have gone through this before and I’ve been threatened and traumatised. I can’t go through this again. It’s bad enough we have to risk our lives coming to work everyday but I can’t lose a day’s work. It’s not fair at all,” griped another.

According to the workers they have three days backlog of rubbish to sort out but will increase, if the shut in continues.

Hegter met with the head of DSW who assured him they are in the process of resolving the main demand that was raised.  “The Head of DSW and his deputy were both there heading up the negotiations with the unions,” he said.