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In the absence of a functioning Renosterberg municipality, the Democratic Alliance (DA) acquired assistance from the private sector in cleaning up the growing number of makeshift rubbish dumps that have been forming in Petrusville.

This comes after Renosterberg’s already poor and unreliable refuse removal services came to a complete standstill after the last working battery of the refuse trucks gave in. In the last six months, since the implementation of the Eskom court order to freeze the municipality’s bank account, the battery could still be recharged, or a replacement borrowed, but not anymore. The municipality doesn’t have accessible funds to procure diesel for the refuse removal trucks, let alone a new battery.

In effect, the dire state of refuse services is now non-existent. Uncollected litter is strewn across the Renosterberg landscape. This especially poses health and safety risks to learners, especially in the vicinity of schools. See pics here, here and here.

The DA approached a private contractor involved in a local construction project, who was keen to help. This contractor has already cleaned the refuse from around the Petrusville Primary School and will be tackling the refuse around the Thembinkosi Primary School next. The DA is grateful for the assistance of the contractor.

It is a sad day indeed when private companies have to usurp the roles of government institutions, that are collecting people’s rates and taxes but which are simply incapable of performing their mandated duties. This is a major indictment on the ANC-run local and the provincial government, that has failed to provide any noteworthy intervention to date.

The DA will do our part to try and help keep Renosterberg clean. We will also continue to engage with stakeholders, who clearly care more about the residents of Renosterberg than does government, in an effort to prevent the municipality from drowning in refuse.

Issued by Renosterberg municipality Wynand Fillies