Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) is calling for an urgent and thorough investigation into the tragic death of a worker associated with the collection of solid waste in the Dimbaza area around midday on Wednesday, 30 October 2024.
With many of the Metro’s own compactor trucks grounded, allegedly due to sabotage or awaiting maintenance to receive their Certificate of Fitness, much of the solid waste function has had to be outsourced.
While we have been unable to determine whether the truck in question belongs to the Metro or an external service provider, the DA has raised concerns multiple times about the use of clearly unroadworthy, unlicenced, and unsafe compactor trucks for waste removal in the municipality.
The issue also extends to the lack of protective clothing for the staff of the external service providers as they undertake their duties daily.
The DA will be submitting questions to the Solid Waste Directorate as a matter of priority to ensure that a comprehensive report outlining the outcomes of the investigation into this matter is tabled before Council in December.
It is unacceptable for the relief and joy of having a job and providing for one’s family to be taken away by a fatal freak accident involving an obviously unroadworthy compactor truck.
The DA will fight for the rights of all workers to do their jobs without fear of losing their lives in the process of doing so.
Regards
Cllr Sue Bentley
DA Buffalo City Caucus Leader
Oblivion
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