The City of Tshwane has encouraged residents in Mamelodi to capture on camera the miscreants who were dumping waste on the streets, so the footage can be presented to law-enforcement as evidence.
This comes after photos of discarded trash on Tsamaya Road on social media this week left residents enraged at the strewn rubbish.
The City has condemned the "despicable" behaviour, saying it was sabotage aimed at undermining its efforts to maintain cleanliness in the area.
In reaction to the illegal dumping, one social media user urged the City to intervene: “Why are people of Mamelodi placing their trash along Tsamaya Road? Tshwane please intervene, especially regarding waste collection for properties along Tsamaya Road and Mamelodians, let's love where we stay.”
The City said it had received disturbing information about certain people deliberately trashing the streets to create an impression that the municipality didn’t care about grime in the area.
“The residents have correctly labelled this behaviour ‘sabotage’. We encourage residents to continue to be vigilant and take footage of these despicable acts so that it can be presented to law enforcement as evidence,”the City said on X.
Rubbish collection was recently disrupted by service providers who didn't meet the requirements of the SS01 waste removal contract implemented with effect from July 15, 2024.
This past weekend City contractors were escorted by the Tshwane metro police to implement a catch-up plan for garbage removal in Region 6, which includes Mamelodi.
The City indicated that it was collecting waste in the township despite the trucks and the inspector’s bakkie being attacked by workers of the former waste service providers.
Areas like Bronkhorstspruit, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville, according to municipal spokesperson Selby Bokaba, had experienced the worst form of intimidation since the implementation of a new contract.
Those behind the intimidation are believed to be the previous waste management contractors who were among the 60%, who didn’t make it back onto the new tender due to the stringent specifications.
According to the specifications, trucks must not be older than nine years, must be fitted with tracking devices and have valid e-Natis documents.
City Manager Mr Johann Mettler recently said the City would not surrender to threats by previous service providers who did not meet the new requirements.
He said the instigators had been identified and warned that action would be taken against them, “We will continue with the deployment of law enforcement officers along the identified routes and at landfill sites to thwart their planned criminal activities.”
Pretoria News
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