Note to editors: Please find the attached English soundbite by Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands answers from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, regarding why municipalities in the province are double dipping. They are hiring external service providers for waste collection while maintaining waste management departments filled with thousands of employees and trucks costing millions for the same function.
This startling information was revealed by MEC Mamabolo after the DA raised questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
According to the MEC, Ekurhuleni has 102 municipal compactor trucks. Only nine of these are operational while 93 are currently out of service due to breakdowns and prolonged delays. This municipality, like the City of Tshwane and Merafong Local Municipality, contracts external sources for waste collection. The MEC further reveals that most municipalities have few or no waste collection backlogs.
See full reply here.
The ongoing collection of waste, despite most waste collection fleets in our municipalities being non-operational, underscores a troubling reality: municipalities are hiring contractors at an added expense for services they should be able to handle and are already paying for internally.
These municipalities should consider repairing the trucks that are gathering dust due to insufficient maintenance and repairs. Additionally, it would be sensible to utilise the existing staff in waste management departments to guarantee timely waste collection without straining the budget further.
The DA will table questions to MEC Mamabolo to determine why trucks are not being repaired on time, the responsibilities of the existing staff if these services are being outsourced to service providers and how much is being paid to these service providers, their identities, and the duration of their contracts.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government will ensure that all municipalities are well-resourced to render refuse and waste removal services. Furthermore, we will ensure that trucks are properly and regularly maintained. In instances where there is a need for outsourcing services, we will ensure that there is no double dipping and municipalities are not disadvantaged to ensure value for money.