The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants Magareng residents, who have been waiting more than nine months for the municipality’s only refuse truck to be repaired, to have their accounts credited with ongoing charges for the non-existent refuse removal service.
The refuse truck has been out of order since January 2024, when the electronic gearbox broke down. The truck had to be transported to Kimberley by a flat-bed truck, for which a quotation first had to be obtained. It is suspected that a number of quotations lapsed before the truck could eventually be transported to Kimberley in July 2024.
After my own investigation, and a recent oversight inspection of the truck and a visit to the agent in Kimberley, I can confirm that payment for the assessment was done on 2 October. At the time of my inspection, the truck was still waiting to be repaired.
In the meantime, a bakkie is used to remove the refuse of some businesses while no refuse collection is done at households. Residents either have to remove their own refuse or pay someone extra to do it, while Magareng municipality has continued to charge them for refuse removal since January. In effect, many residents are paying double for a non-existent municipal service.
Other residents dump their refuse wherever they can find a spot in open spaces, in town and even along the national roads, turning the town into an eyesore. The entrance to the landfill site is also in a very poor state. Refuse is scattered all over the place, including in the road, causing residents to fear punctures and other damage to their vehicles, if they dare enter. See pics here and here.
The truck should have been repaired a long ago. The time lost to repair the vehicle is attributed to poor financial and administrative processes and ultimately, a non-caring municipality.
Magareng municipality now needs to do the right thing and credit accounts of residents, to reimburse them for refuse removal services that they are unfairly carrying the costs for. I have spoken to the Acting Municipal Manager about my request and will also table it at the next council meeting.