Durban — Durban’s Metro police have been called on to ensure that refuse pick-up operations return to normal as striking workers from the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) attempt to disrupt the service.
In what has been condemned widely as an act of sabotage, disgruntled EPWP workers whose contracts were being terminated resorted to blocking some of the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) depots.
They have also been accused of threatening DSW staff and pelting trucks with objects which prompted the eThekwini Municipality to deploy police to accompany trucks to depots.
Areas affected by uncollected refuse include Chatsworth, Wentworth, Bluff, Clairwood, Yellowwood Park and Glenwood, among others, with the municipality saying it would let residents know when the service would resume.
The municipality said the EPWP payroll would be reduced by 2 879 workers from 4155 to 1276 owing to a reduction in the programme’s budget allocation from the national department. This has resulted in the soon-to-be jobless workers going on a rampage.
The disruption has been widely condemned, with calls for the arrest and prosecution of violent workers.
The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) expressed concern at the municipality’s slow response in addressing the issue.
“There has been very little or no interventions from the municipality until Friday, when police were deployed to ensure stability,” said Queen Mbatha, spokesperson for Imatu.
“Imatu has been urging the municipality to take all necessary steps to ensure the well-being and safety of our members. Acts of violence and intimidation cannot be tolerated. Criminal activity disguising itself within the legitimate outcry of some group of workers should not be tolerated,” said Mbatha.
The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry slammed the action by the protesting workers, saying it was an act of sabotage. Chamber CEO Palesa Phili said their actions not only deterred investors and visitors from coming to Durban but affected businesses operating in the affected areas.
“If rubbish is not removed by the City on time, our stormwater drainage systems run the risk of being blocked,” said Phili.
She said there had been a moderate improvement in business confidence, but stressed that there were areas that organised business regarded as non-negotiable and these included a clean environment and efficient waste removal services.
“The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC is calling on the City to take decisive action against people disrupting the removal of waste, immediately implement a contingency plan to defuse the situation and allow services to resume, and implement consequence management to ensure there is accountability,” Phili said.
DA councillor Thabani Mthethwa blamed the municipality’s political leadership, saying it had given the workers the impression that they would be permanently employed.
“The municipality needs to address the matter with the urgency it deserves. Residents cannot be held ransom for the municipality’s failure,” said Mthethwa.
The IFP’s Mdu Nkosi said it had been wrong to give the impression that the EPWP beneficiaries would be permanently employed when there was no budget for this.
Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the situation was under control. She cited government-wide budgetary constraints as the reason behind the City’s termination of EPWP staff. She said the municipality would receive R18.79 million for the new financial year, a reduction of R42m from the previous year.
“As a result, the number of EPWP participants will decrease from 4155 to 1276. This unfortunate development is beyond the municipality’s control. The municipality is also concerned about the impact this will have on affected beneficiaries (whose contracts) have been terminated and values their contribution to service delivery,” Sisilana said.
She said the municipality was exploring various solutions to resuscitate the programme and this would include engaging with the National Treasury.
“The municipality strongly condemns the interruption of services in some parts of the city by EPWP participants whose contracts come to an end this month. This comes after EPWP participants went on the rampage this week (last week), blockading entrances to depots and threatening employees. This has caused a service delivery backlog, mainly the collection of refuse in the Durban CBD and some residential areas.”
Sisilana added that security measures to prevent threats, intimidation and attacks on employees who are on duty were being implemented, and that cases of intimidation and damage to municipal property had been reported to the police for further investigation.
Sunday Tribune