Byline: Kelebogile Masemola

08 June 2022

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy handed over Waste Collection and Landfill Management Fleet to Merafong and Rand West Local Municipalities amounting to a combined budget of nearly R4 million on Monday, 30 May 2022.

In a statement issued by the department, Albi Modise said this national waste management intervention seeks to address waste collection issues in un-serviced areas, illegal dumping and landfill operations in selected municipalities across all provinces.

As part of this intervention, the Minister handed over Waste Collection and Landfill Management Fleet also known as the Yellow Fleet to Merafong City Local Municipality (1 Skip loader Truck) and Rand West City Local Municipality (1 Front End Loader) amounting to a combined budget of nearly R4-million.

Due to insufficient budget, most local municipalities are facing serious challenges with waste collection services and as a result, some of the residents and businesses dump waste is not properly managed due to lack of fleet and equipment.

In attempt to assist the municipalities, the department in 2018/19 engaged with CoGTA and National Treasury to enable municipalities to procure waste collection and landfill operation vehicles through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).

“In considering the needs in your area, we looked at the complaints received about the Libanon landfill Site and engagement with the officials in the Rand West City Local Municipality regarding the interventions needed. 

As I officially hand over these two vehicles to you, I would like to appeal to residents to join hands with your municipality, and with each other, to ensure that your neighbourhoods are clean.

I encourage you all to pick up litter on the pavement outside your home, in your parks and in the street, to throw your waste in a bin and not next to it, and to support your municipality in its efforts to delivery effective waste services. 

These vehicles have been delivered to your municipalities already and today to I am officially handing over to you,” said Minister Creecy.

Creecy was joined by RWCLM Executive Mayor Gladys Khoza and the Executive Mayor of the West Rand District Municipality Councillor Hullet Hild.