Tshwane denies claims of idle workers at waste management depot

The City of Tshwane has denied claims that more than 80 workers at a Region 3 waste management depot are idle daily due to insufficient resources and vehicles.

The claims emerged during an oversight visit by Member of Mayoral Committee for Agriculture and Environment Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, who found workers playing games at the facility last week.

In their interaction with Ramabodu, workers claimed that they played games to pass the time because they had no actual work to do.

Initially, Ramabodu estimated in a social video clip that over 80 city workers were idle at the depot, but one of the workers' leaders told him there were more than 50 workers.

Ramabodu described the situation of workers coming to the depot without tasks as "shocking".

The workers informed him that they had no assigned tasks and some drivers were being paid without performing any work.

Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, said the situation was due to the expired waste fleet contract, which left the city with fewer than 40 workers to operate the vehicles.

He said: “The period of transition between the expired contract and the upcoming contract left the waste operations hamstrung. The transition between two contracts and the City’s financial challenges compromising the efforts to expedite fleet procurement, resulted in the City needing to implement a rotational shift system to accommodate the fleet shortage.”

He said workers who were said to be loitering are scheduled for rotational shift work on a daily basis. 

“Based on the records in possession of the department, the department does not have 80 employees who are not allocated work. There (are) less than 40 employees that are utilised in different roles during the shift system,” he said.

Additionally, he said, the city has started a five-year phased programme to procure a fleet for service delivery, including waste management, which is subject to annual budget allocation. 

He said the city is progressively acquiring vehicles through the programme with the next delivery  of 16 waste vehicles expected in a few weeks.

Regarding claims about insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and overalls, he said the city provides equipment to workers whose roles require it, budgeting for it annually.

Ramabodu claimed that the workers' environment is not conducive for work, citing issues with ablution facilities and showers.

Mashigo said: “The City also makes budget provisions for maintenance and repairing buildings. Once repair and maintenance needs are identified, processes for repair works are set in motion, which are affected by a central property management department in the City. Repair work requests are in place and necessary repairs are carried out as on when there is a need.” 

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za