The union read with shock in this morning's Daily Dispatch newspaper of the refuse tenders awarded to private companies in Mdantsane, Potsdam and Fort Jackson. Privatisation of refuse in Khayelitsha late last year in the same manner was ruled to be in breach of this agreement by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
Advantaged areas continue to enjoy the same high levels of service as ever.
Yet apartheid inequalities are entrenched further by privatising refuse removals in disadvantaged areas to companies who have neither the equipment or the political will to clean the area properly. In Galeshewe, Kimberley, privatised refuse removal had to be taken back by the council after the service ceased when the subcontractors had not budgeted for funds to fix broken equipment. In Khayelitsha, individuals carrying refuse bags cleaning the area on foot were unsurprisingly not able to keep the area clean for even a single day. For comment, please contact the Eastern Cape Media Co-ordinator , Thobile Maso.