Durban - As refuse collectors strike in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, uncollected rubbish is being left to rot on pavements, and some fed-up communities are taking to the streets to air their frustration.
uMlazi residents, angered by heaps of rubbish that had not been removed by contractors employed by the eThekwini Municipality, toppled bins, trees and rocks on to the busy Mangosuthu Highway on Tuesday.
The mess had still not been cleared by Tuesday afternoon.
Contractors downed tools at least three weeks ago and waste has not been collected in the township since.
In a statement last week, city manager S’bu Sithole promised refuse removal would commence from last Thursday. But the rubbish was still piled on street corners on Tuesday afternoon.
With no sign of the refuse removal trucks, residents blockaded the streets.
In the intersection between R and W sections, near the Durban Transport bus depot, two trees were chopped down and dumped in the middle of a busy road, while near the new KwaMnyandu Shopping Centre, piles of trash were strewn on the road.
Tozi Mthethwa, the city’s spokeswoman, said the refuse collection was expected to commence on Wednesday and they had been given “assurance” that all refuse would be removed by the weekend.
Earlier this week, in Pietermaritzburg, refuse was strewn across streets when
workers contracted to the Msunduzi electricity and refuse removal departments toyi-toyied and barricaded the Havelock and Doull roads’ offices with tyres, demanding to speak to the municipal manager, Mxolisi Nkosi.
The reason for this strike, according to disgruntled workers, was that they wanted permanent jobs.
One temporary employee, who identified himself as “Jeffrey”, said that most workers had been employed on a temporary basis for more than 15 years and, while the municipality continued to make promises of permanent employment, nothing had been done.
Msunduzi Municipality spokeswoman, Nqobile Madonda, said the strike was unprotected.
“Disgruntled employees should address their legitimate concerns with line management internally first. There is a proper procedure and protocol to be followed,” she said.
Daily News
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