During a recent oversight, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality was appalled to see that the municipal fleet is gathering dust and rusting at the old municipal yard. (See photos here, here, here, here and here)
We found the following vehicles, including yellow fleet machines, had expired license discs dating back to 2016:
- 2 Toyota Corolla sedans
- 1 high up truck
- 1 high up bucket truck
- 3 waste removal trucks, two of which were purchased in 2016
- 1 Tata deeper truck, purchased in 2014 but has never been utilised
- 1 Skip bin loader
- 1 Roller compactor
According to its 2020/2021 Annual Report, the municipality have placed 58 skip bins in strategic areas within the municipality.
We are however sceptical of the placement of these skips, as we found 12 skip bins dumped at the testing station earlier this year.
Whilst the waste removal truck is rusting, the municipality has contracted two service providers for waste collection in various municipal areas:
- Bauba Marumo Group was appointed on 2 November 2020 to collect waste in Praktiseer and Ohrigstad with a tender amount of R12,958,138.20 as well as for operations and management of Burgersfort Landfill site for a tender amount of R23,239,761.00.
- Mashumi Construction Supply and Projects was appointed on 2 November 2020 for waste collection at Steelpoort and Mapodile for a tender amount of R13, 348,015.22.
- Mashumi Construction Supply and Projects for waste collection at Burgersfort for a tender amount of R18,979,116.40
We are concerned as to the municipality’s motives to appoint service providers spending millions to render services that the municipality can render itself.
The Democratic Alliance wrote to the Mayor, Edwin Maila, to raise our concerns regarding the matter, but have yet to receive a response.
We will now request the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) to investigate the cost effectiveness of getting our own vehicles roadworthy and back at work and save money which can be utilised for other service provision.
The waste removal contracts all expire on 30 November 2023 and the DA is hopeful that our interventions will ensure that the municipality is able to deliver waste removal services to residents utilising their own resources going forward.