The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini visited the Buffelsdraai landfill site to assess the progress and challenges since the highly publicized incidents that occurred last year in July.
The Buffelsdraai landfill site in Verulam, had been closed to the public after a group of waste pickers were shot at by security, leaving one dead and 17 injured. As the DA, we noted the progress made on the site and the future plans to accommodate the aggrieved waste-pickers in a collaboration between the city, however multiple concerns with other facets of Durban Solid Waste (DSW) need immediate attention.
Whilst the new coalition of parties made up of the ANC/IFP/NFP and EFF think that they are progressively moving the city forward, the reality on the ground is that residents are still very bitter about the substandard services in many communities. Late or delayed refuse collection, waves of litter in public spaces, townships, urban areas, and informal settlements, coupled with the city’s inability to deal effectively with sorting out refuse, are just some of the frustrations of residents.
eThekwini has failed to supply orange and clear bags for paper -cardboard -plastic recycling and glass and cans respectively for years, in most wards. In fact, in some wards in the north, its unheard of. They are equally guilty of not providing sufficient receptacles for disposal of litter particularly in secondary Central Business Districts (CBDs) across the city as many secondary CBDs resemble slum towns, with the amount of filth, grime, crime, and lack of by-law enforcement.
The water outages and crime are not the only reason the municipality has seen a downward spiral in business confidence, investment and tourism.
As the DA, we recommend that the city administration invest urgently in awareness programs, the ageing fleet, bulk up their law enforcement from only five officers that cover an entire City, collect the rubbish on time, distribute black, orange, clear and blue bags regularly and fine perpetrators who dump illegally.
As the festive season approaches, DSW in eThekwini needs to clean up their act and fast.