Uncollected rubbish strewn in the streets of Pietermaritzburg will soon be a thing of the past, according to city officials.
This was the promise made to residents by Msunduzi mayor Chris Ndlela on Thursday when he officially received seven compactor trucks which the municipality spent R11.2 million on.
He added that in the next two weeks, the municipality would also take delivery of a fleet of 70 vehicles, which cost R17.2m.
Among these vehicles were tankers, trucks, bakkies and sedans which would aid in improving provision of services.
An upbeat Ndlela said that when the new council assumed office almost a year ago, the municipality was still under provincial administration.
“The most glaring effect of that situation was the very little or lack of service delivery to residents. This was the immediate challenge that we were faced with in order to once again restore the confidence of the ratepayers in our council.
“I made a commitment on the day of our inauguration that we will prioritise service delivery so that our residents get services they deserved.”
Ndlela added that one of the main problems appeared to be that the city’s fleet was old.
When it came to waste collection, it gave councillors sleeplessness nights, he said.
“I know that there are areas where waste has not been collected for two weeks.
“We are here today to say to the residents, ‘We have been listening to you, and we have been working on solutions to the problem of waste collection.
“Today marks a day where a marked turnaround in service delivery is being realised.
“We are today taking delivery of seven waste trucks that we have purchased,” he said.
He added that this meant there was now no reason for waste not to be collected, and collected according to schedule. - The Mercury