Latest news with #CleansingandSolidWaste
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini councillors approve new waste management strategy
eThekwini councillors approved the Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) Turnaround Strategy on Monday. This strategy is expected to be robust in waste collection in the municipality. Image: Bongani Mbatha/African News Agency (ANA) eThekwini councillors approved the Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) Turnaround Strategy on Monday. The strategy has been developed in alignment with National Treasury's Metro Trading Services Reform Framework (MTSRF). The waste management directorate will change from a traditional unit to a CSW business directorate with a single point of accountability. This will enable the executive director of the Waste Management Directorate to have the necessary responsibility and authority to improve its services and to be held accountable in this regard. As per the requirements by National Treasury, the strategy document is coupled with the Cleansing and Solid Waste Directorate's Institutional and Governance Roadmap and the Business and Investments Plan to improve all aspects of the solid waste business. According to the report, the institutional reforms focus on improved management and governance, while the Business and Investment Plan focuses on the Waste Business Development Plan. The Directorate is also required to develop a Performance Improvement Action Plan which is due in April 2026. The plan represents a critical opportunity not just to clean up the city, but to restore the dignity of service delivery that residents so rightly deserve, said Hlengiwe Shozi, DA Councillor at the council meeting. 'For far too long, eThekwini's waste management system has failed its people with broken promises, irregular collections, and communities forced to live among illegal dumping and overflowing bins. If this plan is to succeed, it must go beyond paper. It must be backed by action, urgency, and accountability,' she said. Shozi said although recycling is mentioned in the strategy, there are no clear timelines or measurable targets and she urged DSW to prioritise this to reduce the burden on landfill sites. 'Recycling is not only good for the planet — it's an economic opportunity. Let's stop treating it like an afterthought,' Shozi added. She also suggested that the poor quality of refuse bags being distributed be looked into. Patrick Pillay, leader of the Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC), said the monitoring and implementation of this strategy lies with the eThekwini committees. Pillay urged councillors in the committees to be proactive to ensure the strategy is a success story. 'Despite all the fancy words used to describe the strategy our residents need service delivery. They want to live in a clean environment,' he said. Sunitha Maharaj, Minority Front councillor, said that one of the biggest challenges for CSW has always been service delivery protests. 'What we do not support is any move to impose tariff increases on the public to keep the unit financially viable. We say this because of the lack of accountability and transparency by the municipality previously in terms of reporting progress challenges and corrective measures,' she said. Maharaj was concerned about the municipality having the capacity or if there is a political will to realise the reform goals. She said the Supply Chain Management must be held accountable for delays and must ensure that contract management is strengthened on awarded contracts to the most responsive tenderer. Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC eThekwini councillor, said waste management in the city has gone through some serious challenges including the mushrooming of informal settlements overnight that were not budgeted for in CSW. He said the strategy gives the municipality a chance to turn things around and restore confidence in local government. 'Let us commend the turnaround we have seen in terms of the cleanliness of our streets. We moved a long way from where we were to where we are now in terms of the cleanliness of our city but we are not masking any challenges. A lot still needs to be done and we are happy this strategy is here,' he said. Henricus van der Ryst, Freedom Front Plus councillor, said that National Treasury should look at informing people about waste management at grassroot level such as primary schools. He was concerned about the funding burden placed only on some paying residents. Saneli Zuma, ActionSA councillor, said there was a culture of negligence from both residents and businesses who continue to discard waste irresponsibly, as well as illegal dumping in and around township areas. 'Let us not allow this to become yet another strategy adopted in council that never sees the light of day," she said. [email protected]
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Political parties debate eThekwini's R1. 75 billion waste management strategy
eThekwini Municipality proposed R1.75 billion turnaround strategy for the Cleansing and Solid Waste unit, is aimed at addressing financial deficits and improving service delivery. Image: FILE Political parties in the eThekwini Municipality had mixed views on the Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) unit Turnaround Strategy, on Tuesday. The CSW unit updated the eThekwini Municipality Executive Committee (EXCO) on its strategy which is expected to cost approximately R1.75 billion over 10 years, with funding mobilised through reprioritisation, cost optimisation, and leveraging national reform-linked grants. The CSW reported that mounting financial deficits, declining infrastructure reliability, and growing service delivery backlogs have rendered the current solid waste business model unsustainable. The municipality stated that the turnaround strategy for the CSW was developed in alignment with the National Treasury's Metro Trading Services Reform (MTSR) framework. The deadline for the submission is 31 July 2025 with a special council meeting scheduled for Monday. The strategy identifies a clear trajectory for reform under the three-phase national model: stabilise, recover, and transform. The municipality has found that the current waste service value chain is highly linear, with over 98% of waste landfilled and minimal diversion. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to the municipality, the strategy introduces seven strategic focus areas (SFAs), each aligned with specific goals and causes of underperformance. One of them is the Single Point of Accountability (SPoMA) which will establish a dedicated, ringfenced utility structure for CSW with clear leadership and delegated authority. Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala, ANC Exco member, stated that the ANC caucus supported the strategy including the institutional and governance roadmap and the business and investment plan. 'We recognise that this strategy is a key step towards transforming the unit into a more efficient, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible service – all under clear and accountable leadership,' he said. Madlala said that the ANC appreciates that the strategy aligns with the Treasury's MTSR, which aims to professionalise and strengthen municipal trading services. 'We note and support the development of the Performance Improvement Action Plan due in April 2026, which will help unlock much-needed funding through the Urban Settlements Development Grant. The ANC believes regular progress updates are essential. We support the decision to keep this matter as a standing item on the Committee's agenda to help address any gaps and monitor progress,' Madlala said. Madlala encouraged the CSW to continue working towards cleaner communities and improved service delivery. Andre Beetge, DA Exco member, said the DA supports the strategy that aligns with the prescriptive guidelines of National Treasury, by implication forcing compliance on the metro. 'We, however, remain in amused speculation on the political will to implement. This against the backdrop of recent Auditor General and Internal Audit reports, wherein the city's water and sanitation strategy was acknowledged, yet with implementation and outcome reporting being extremely vague and questionable,' Beetge said. He added that a strategy doesn't keep the streets clean, the gutters clear, the oceans uncontaminated, the landfills operational, or the compactors available. 'It is competent people willing to do what needs to be done without corruption, political interference or personal hindrance,' Beetge said.
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Mayor urges community collaboration to resolve Isipingo's service delivery challenges
ETHEKWINI Municipality mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, has called for stronger co-operation between residents and the municipality to address ongoing service delivery issues affecting communities in Isipingo and surrounding areas. Also read: New cable to ease Lotus Park electricity woes The mayor was speaking during a community engagement meeting at Restoration Ministries in Isipingo on June 29. Residents raised concerns about intermittent water supply, frequent power outages, crime, and businesses operating illegally in residential properties. Xaba assured the community that the municipality has prioritised resolving electricity disruptions. 'Our electricity team has replaced all the old power cables in affected areas. This work will help stabilise power supply in Isipingo, Lotus Park, Malukazi, and the Zamani Transit Camp,' he said. However, during the meeting, a cable fault between the Redbro substation and the Isipingo major substation caused a power trip-out, affecting 20 transformers. This outage left Malabar Hills, Isipingo Rail, Isipingo Hills, and the Pilgrim informal settlement without electricity. Ward 90 councillor Shad Nowbuth confirmed that municipal technicians were dispatched after the fault was reported. 'Teams have been working to restore supply, and several households and businesses are already back on the grid,' said Nowbuth. In addition to electricity issues, the mayor announced that teams from the Roads, Cleansing and Solid Waste, and Water and Sanitation departments would be deployed to the area to address other challenges. These include repairing potholes, closing water leaks and sewer spillages, and clearing illegal dumping sites. To improve safety and traffic management, Xaba also instructed the metro police to increase visible patrols in the area. 'The success of these interventions depends on close collaboration between the municipality and the community. Working together, we can improve living conditions and deliver quality services,' he said. Residents were encouraged to report service delivery issues through the municipality's customer care channels. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Doctor bewildered by eThekwini Municipality's R2. 8 million utility bill
A Reservoir Hills doctor received a R2.8 million utility bill from the eThekwini Municipality for April 2025. Dr Terence Govender said his average monthly bill was R8 500. Image: Supplied A Reservoir Hills doctor has been left perplexed after receiving a R2.8 million utility bill from the eThekwini Municipality for April 2025. Doctor Terence Govender said his average monthly bill was R8 500 and was left bemused by his latest bill. For March, Govender was billed R2.7 million in total, which consists of rates R1 820, Water and Sanitation R1 276, and Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) R256. He was billed R2.3 million for electricity and R358 311 VAT. Govender's bill for April totalled R91 000. This included water R1 680, Electricity R55 000, CSW R256, interest on arrears R23 641, VAT R8 636. Govender's total bill for March and April amounted to R2.8 million. Govender said that after he had complained, an official came to his home and business to take down the readings. He said all the official said was he would look into it. "I have never been in arrears; I normally pay extra in some months to stay ahead. Some time ago, the bill came to R20 000, and I just paid it to avoid the long queues and nonsense you hear at call centres in the city. This time around, I will take them to task. On the bill, they also use threats of disconnection if you do not pay," Govender said. He blamed the municipality for what he called incompetent employees. He said that at first, he was seething with anger and stressed out, but then as the days passed, he began to laugh about it. Govender said he has generators and inverters at his home, but still pays a high bill. He said there were always prolonged electricity and water supply issues, but residents' bills remained the same monthly. Last week, he spent R3 500 on diesel to operate the generators during a power outage that lasted more than two days in Reservoir Hills. "I am not sure where they thumb sucked these figures from. What happens to those unsuspecting pensioners and other residents who are falling into this situation and making plans to pay off amounts like this? They force people to pay first and claim back later. Now they have pushed their luck and gone beyond. We will take them to court," Govender said. Reservoir Hills Ratepayers Association (RHRA) Director Yogesh Naidoo said, despite alerting the municipality to the problem in April, the RHRA did not receive any feedback. The RHRA raised the following concerns with the municipality: The electricity charge alone is R55 639.37 for a residential property, with no commercial operations or unusual usage patterns. The total arrears and monthly charges are unsubstantiated and continue to escalate with no proper reconciliation or supporting breakdown. Govender has previously attempted to resolve this issue with the Revenue Department without success or response. Naidoo said that the RHRA demand a comprehensive audit and itemised reconciliation of this account from January 2023 to April 2025. The RHRA called for: An immediate halt to interest and penalty accruals pending resolution of this dispute. A formal acknowledgment of this complaint and assignment of a reference number. Prevention of any termination or suspension of services to properties under Govender's property portfolio. Naidoo warned that if there was continued inaction, the RHRA would escalate the matter to the office of the Public Protector, the South African Human Rights Commission, National Energy Regulator of South Africa, and the Auditor-General of South Africa because "this is a clear case of administrative failure causing financial prejudice to a compliant ratepayer". According to the municipality's finance committee revenue management report for April 2025, household debt, which mainly includes individual/residential customer accounts, remains high at R25 billion, contributing to 75% of the total debtors. For January 2025, the city disconnected 704 electricity and 3 767 customers for water arrears, investigations, and tampering. The municipality was also concerned about the Suprema and Revenue Management System (RMS), which had not yet materialised, thus resulting in no proper data in place for customers who are part of the 80/20 electricity programme. The eThekwini finance committee also requested a report on the migration of the RMS and Suprema system at the next meeting. In January 2025, the city billed 926 282 accounts. In the report, some of the challenges the accounts management section faces were non-completion of monthly billing due to network and technical glitches. The municipal meter management services department is a combined meter reading for water and electricity, which was integrated into the revenue management unit in October 2024. The meter reading contract for electricity expired last year. The report stated that the procurement for external meter readers is under way. Attempts to get a comment from the municipality were unsuccessful at the time of publication. [email protected]
