Latest news with #MayoralCommitteeforEnvironmentandAgricultureManagement
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Take action this World Environment Day: Stop littering at Mabopane Taxi Station
City of Tshwane's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, and taxi rank officials inspect an illegal dumping site adjacent to Mabopane Taxi Rank during a World Environment Day commemoration event. Image: Rapula Moatshe As part of the commemoration of World Environment Day, City of Tshwane's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, issued a stern warning to smokers to stop discarding cigarette butts indiscriminately, particularly at taxi ranks. "We want to encourage them to start taking care of the environment," Ramabodu said during the event held at Mabopane Taxi Station on Thursday. The event aimed to promote a culture of maintaining a clean environment and to encourage the public to refrain from littering and disposing of waste indiscriminately. Ramabodu's call comes as the taxi station faces environmental challenges, such as a lack of skip bins for hawkers to dispose of their rubbish. Vuyisile Jaxa, secretary of the Soshanguve Taxi Owners Association, emphasised the importance of having waste bins available to encourage people to dispose of their waste properly. However, he noted that the problems at the taxi station go beyond litter, adding that commuters and taxi drivers are also grappling with an infestation of oversized rodents, describing them as "rats that are as big as cats". "And can you imagine that these rats are being fed by our people when they throw litter around at the back of their stalls," he said. The taxi association has teamed up with Botshilu Private Hospital and other stakeholders under the banner 'Keeping Soshanguve Clean Campaign' to address these issues. "We want to roll out this thing quarterly to make sure the whole of Soshanguve is clean. It is very important to have skip bins and small dustbins next to the stalls and next to our taxis. People come with food, especially when taking long-distance taxis. If there are dustbins nearby, we can encourage them to throw leftovers inside them," Jaxa said. In response, Ramabodu acknowledged the problems at the station and pledged to prioritise the provision of waste bins and to formalise dumping sites in the area. "We are going to direct all dumping to a specific area so that the municipality can collect it consistently. What is important is that we have identified the issue of the waste bins around the station and we are going to prioritise that," he said. Despite the challenges, Ramabodu commended the taxi station for being relatively clean compared to other stations in Gauteng. "We want to encourage them to continue doing the good work," he said. [email protected]
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Outcry over City of Tshwane's proposed cleansing levy
AfriForum has slammed the City of Tshwane's proposed cleansing levy, calling it unlawful and an added burden on residents. Image: Helenus Kruger / City of Tshwane Civil rights group AfriForum has rejected the City of Tshwane's proposed cleansing levy, calling it unlawful due to double taxation and arguing it would unfairly burden the city's already overtaxed residents. The proposal is part of a draft budget for the 2025/2026 financial year set to take effect on July 1. The proposal targets gated communities and shopping malls without existing city waste accounts but using private waste collection services, with a proposed monthly tariff of R194. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, recently explained that some shopping malls are being targeted because they often have multiple bins but only pay for one. He cited that areas like Wonderpark Estate and malls such as Menlyn Mall are among those targeted, as they use private waste collection services that dispose of waste at city landfills. 'They use our landfills, (which) we maintain (at a cost). They don't maintain them and that is why we are calling for this cleansing levy,' he said. The DA in Tshwane has opposed the proposed levy, describing it as another tax burden on the city's already overtaxed residents. AfriForum has joined the criticism, calling the levy unlawful due to double taxation and arguing it unfairly targets the city's already overburdened residents. The organisation demands that the levy be scrapped, advocating instead for internal reforms and better resource management within the city. AfriForum stated that the proposed levy would target vacant land over 150,000m² and properties valued above R250,000 that do not use the city's refuse removal services. The organisation argues that the proposed levy violates Section 74(2) of the Municipal Systems Act, which requires that municipal service charges be proportional to usage. Deidré Steffens, advisor for local government affairs at AfriForum, said: 'A levy on properties, regardless of the use of a certain service, as planned here, is therefore contrary to this section of the law. This levy is a clear attempt by the Metro to boost its revenue at the expense of overburdened residents.'
