The embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality is set to debate a motion aimed at tackling its escalating waste crisis after once again failing to collect refuse weekly across most of its 45 wards. The collapse in services has left large parts of the municipality neglected, with only five operational trucks currently serving the Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging areas.
This revelation has heightened concerns amid long-standing complaints about Emfuleni’s inability to meet service-delivery targets, ongoing financial mismanagement, and the worsening state of basic services to residents.
Reports indicate that since 2024, and even in the years prior, the municipality has repeatedly failed to carry out weekly refuse collection. Several waste-transfer stations have also been shut down.
Critics warn that illegal dumping, now widespread across Emfuleni, is spiralling into what they describe as an environmental catastrophe, fuelled directly by these closures and the collapse of basic waste-management systems.
Previously, Elize Aucamp, Democratic Alliance councillor for Ward 45 in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, said the waste department was incapable of collecting refuse, disposing of it correctly, or even keeping trucks fuelled with diesel. “The waste situation in Emfuleni is becoming a health hazard, and innocent ratepayers are punished for the failures of a reckless administration,” she said.
She further noted that the party had repeatedly written to the municipal manager requesting clarity on steps to prevent the crisis from recurring.
“This was not the first time, and despite having hope, we do not believe that this will be the last time,” she added.
Aucamp stressed that the party had demanded the removal of the refuse-removal surcharge from residents’ accounts, as refuse collection simply was not taking place.
“In addition to this, there must be a renewed focus on reopening the waste-transfer stations that, at the Premier’s behest, were closed. He has effectively turned the greater Emfuleni into a massive rubbish dump, this despite our continued protest,” she stated.
She reiterated that those responsible for the mismanagement of resources, leading to diesel shortages and a collapse in service delivery, must be suspended pending an investigation.
Earlier this year, Mayor, Sipho Radebe, and Gauteng MEC Jacob Mamabolo launched “Phakama Vaal” with much fanfare, promising a renewed effort to clean up the Vaal. However, the initiative was short-lived. Refuse collection collapsed shortly after dumping sites were cleared, rendering the campaign ineffective.
When this initiative was launched, we had identified roughly 308 illegal dumping sites. Instead of reducing them, that number has now climbed to more than 320. This is yet another example of an ANC-led initiative that prioritises optics over actual solutions.
“Waste at homes thus remains uncollected, but residents continue to be billed for this ‘service’. At this point, it is tantamount to fraud,” Mthembu added.
He also revealed that the party will recommend several urgent interventions: “The municipality procures 38 waste compactor trucks, which are needed as per our waste operational plan, to ensure that the municipality can be able to collect waste weekly at all 45 wards; the municipality resumes daily waste collection at Central Business Districts; introduce ‘skip bins’ in already existing dumping sites with a clear collection strategy; and all waste compactor trucks be fitted with tracking devices in order to be able to monitor whether collection of waste is done as scheduled.”
Mthembu said these measures are essential for Emfuleni to restore reliable waste-management services and deliver the quality of service that residents deserve.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za