eThekwini Must Resolve Labour Dispute and Resume Waste Collection
Alan Beesley
ActionSA eThekwini Caucus Member
ActionSA calls on the eThekwini Municipality to urgently address the internal labour issues with Durban Solid Waste (DSW). The sporadic protests, which seem to be of an illegal nature, have been used to hold the Municipality at ransom.
The ratepayers, under the governance of the ANC, in eThekwini have been facing a persistent decline in service delivery over the years and it is reaching its tipping point.
Since 1 August 2022, the DSW has been on a go slow ever since the decision was taken to cut the accumulated overtime by 50%. This follows a total of R150 million was spent on overtime in the previous financial year. DSW employees have been found working over 200 hours per month, which has been viewed as an abuse of the overtime system.
With negotiations underway, it is paramount that the standard and frequency of service delivery be improved upon and resumed without further delay. While employees have a constitutional right to protest, they must do so legally, and the city is dutybound to mitigate the service delivery backlog experienced by the residents which has potentially damaging health implications.
If service delivery levels drop any further due to the ongoing overtime issues, there are risks to the Municipality that will have long lasting effects. This includes rate boycotts, residents and business leaving the Municipality and further unrest and the potential for illegal dumping across eThekwini.
ActionSA calls on the resolution of these labour issues and the resumption of waste collection. With eThekwini still reeling in from the multiple setbacks over the past two years, the Durban Metro can ill-afford any more interruptions to services.
eThekwini Must Resolve Labour Dispute and Resume Waste Collection
ActionSA calls on the eThekwini Municipality to urgently address the internal labour issues with Durban Solid Waste (DSW). The sporadic protests, which seem to be of an illegal nature, have been used to hold the Municipality at ransom.
The ratepayers, under the governance of the ANC, in eThekwini have been facing a persistent decline in service delivery over the years and it is reaching its tipping point.
Since 1 August 2022, the DSW has been on a go slow ever since the decision was taken to cut the accumulated overtime by 50%. This follows a total of R150 million was spent on overtime in the previous financial year. DSW employees have been found working over 200 hours per month, which has been viewed as an abuse of the overtime system.
With negotiations underway, it is paramount that the standard and frequency of service delivery be improved upon and resumed without further delay. While employees have a constitutional right to protest, they must do so legally, and the city is dutybound to mitigate the service delivery backlog experienced by the residents which has potentially damaging health implications.
If service delivery levels drop any further due to the ongoing overtime issues, there are risks to the Municipality that will have long lasting effects. This includes rate boycotts, residents and business leaving the Municipality and further unrest and the potential for illegal dumping across eThekwini.
ActionSA calls on the resolution of these labour issues and the resumption of waste collection. With eThekwini still reeling in from the multiple setbacks over the past two years, the Durban Metro can ill-afford any more interruptions to services.