The people of Emfuleni deserve a municipality that works: Mamabolo
VANDERBIJLPARK. – In a bold move to confront the escalating waste management crisis in Emfuleni, MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Jacob Mamabolo called an urgent high-level meeting with ELM Executive Mayor, Sipho Radebe Mayoral Committee Members (MMC's), the Municipal Manager (MM), senior officials, and organized labour representatives last week.
The meeting was also attended by Lerato Maloka, Executive Mayor of Sedibeng District Municipality.
This meeting followed the recent launch of the Gauteng Integrated Cross-Boundary Law Enforcement and Service Delivery Programme at Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex, a programme that signalled the Provincial Government's intent to work with municipalities.
Despite the initial rollout, which included pothole patching, road re-marking, and limited clearing of illegal dumping sites, Mamabolo is said to have expressed serious concern that the impact has been insufficient, especially on the pressing issue of waste management.
A statement issued said that driven by focus on addressing illegal dumping and solid waste backlogs, the MEC's visit is not ceremonial but operational, aimed at turning around the state of cleanliness and dignity in Sedibeng through decisive leadership and targeted resource deployment.
It is said that Mamabolo unveiled a plan to bolster the municipality's capacity by deploying almost a 1,000 personnel and equipment units. These resources, it is said, will support municipal teams in executing a two-week intensive clean-up operation to rid communities of illegal dumping hotspots that have overwhelmed local capacity.
'This urgent work visit is driven by a single purpose, to bring focused energy, accountability, and a whole-of-government approach to one of Emfuleni's most visible and urgent crises: Waste management,' Mamabolo said.
'What happened during the launch was a start, but it was not enough. Now we are escalating the response.'
Later in the day, Mamabolo is said to have met with organised business to directly respond to their concerns around deteriorating infrastructure, crime, and declining service delivery standards.
'The people of Emfuleni deserve a municipality that works, and we are here to ensure that happens,' Mamabolo concluded.
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