Rubbish collection switches to townships

KWAZAKHELE and parts of Zwide were the focus areas yesterday of the private company hired to clear up the rubbish backlog around Nelson Mandela Bay.

This, as the municipal refuse workers are no longer working through their lunch breaks and are refusing to put in extra time.

This has resulted in a massive rubbish backlog around the city, particularly in the townships and northern areas.

The municipality has accused the workers of being on a strike or go-slow.

But this was refuted by South African Municipal Workers Union regional secretary Mqondisi Nodongwe, who said: “There is no strike.

“The city has the backlog of refuse because workers are no longer working overtime and are taking the hour lunch break.

“We are meeting the municipality again [this morning] to continue with negotiations over the one-hour payment and other issues.

“We will be saying the metros they have modelled us with are more advanced.

“For example, the City of Cape Town washes its refuse trucks once a week; here a truck bought 20 years ago has never been washed and it is filthy.

“The management in the City of Cape Town is also hands-on in that they understand the value of happy employees – they don’t let workers work with unresolved issues,” Nodongwe said.

Mayoral spokesman Sibongile Dimbaza said the private company hired to clear up the backlog had focused on Kwazakhele and Zwide yesterday and would move on to other areas today.