Durban - The eThekwini Municipality has promised to investigate claims some of its employees were selling refuse collection bags meant to be given for free to control litter in residential areas.
This after a call by residents of Merebank to the municipality to act against the employees who they claimed were selling the municipal refuse bags.
A community leader who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity said after he was informed by the residents on Friday, he sent family members to buy the plastic bags as evidence. He said the employees were charging R10 a bundle, adding they were not able to take the truck registration number because it was parked far away.
He is keeping the bin bags and would not use them until he meets the investigating team from the municipality.
“As far as I know the municipality has its own forensic unit so I am keeping the bags so that the investigation would reveal the suspect’s fingerprints as well as mine to prove that we got it from the municipality employee,” said the residents’ leader.
He added he had also alerted their PR councillor Sithembiso Ngema who has promised to raise the matter with the council.
Merewent Foundation leader Premilla Deonath confirmed receiving complaints about the practice and encouraged those who had paid for the plastic bags to report to the police and municipality authorities.
“Although I have not bought any plastic myself, residents have informed me about the illegal practice. This is totally wrong because the municipality provides plastic bags so that residents collect the refuse and use these bags to prevent littering,” said Deonath.
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela expressed shock at the allegations, saying the municipality would immediately investigate and would not hesitate to act against those employees found guilty. He said the municipality had its own forensic unit called Central Integrity Investigation Unit and residents should report criminal activity by municipal employees to the unit.
“It is shocking to hear that there were members of our staff who were selling refuse bags which the municipality gives for free to residents to help fight littering. Definitely, we are going to send our teams to investigate the allegations and we would like to assure residents that should we find the culprits we will take serious action,” said Mayisela.
Daily News