Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - The DA’s revelation last week about the Matlosana Municipality paying R75 million for the city’s refuse removal to a contractor that is not delivering his end of the contract, was met with silence from the municipality.
Repeated attempts by Klerksdorp Record to get comment on the allegations by the DA ended in a dead end. Cllr Gerhard Strydom for the DA, said he has tabled a motion on the issue for the next council meeting that is expected to be held on Tuesday March 26. “The council will have to break their silence and answer our questions,’’ he said.
In the meantime, all refuse removal in the city has grinded to a halt. The municipality’s failure to collect domestic refuse as scheduled has forced residents to either resort to illegal dumping or to contract private companies to do so, while the municipality continues to bill residents for this non-existent service.
Rubbish heaps attract vermin which poses a health risk to residents.
Last week, Cllr Strydom pointed fingers to Molebogeng Trading Enterprise for not delivering on the refuse collection contract that was awarded to the company in December 2023. The contract is worth R75 million.
“Since the contract was awarded, regular refuse collection services have all but ceased and are erratic at best,’’ Strydom said.
“It appears that Molebogeng Trading Enterprise is a Limpopo-based company, with no registered address in Matlosana except for a vacant stand in Uraniaville. The company also has no experience in managing refuse removal services. Under the contract, Molebogeng Trading Enterprise was obligated to provide 10 refuse removal trucks in good working condition on December 15, with a requirement that 10 additional new refuse trucks be brought into operation three months within the contract period, and another six trucks at the five-month mark.
“To date, only two trucks have been made available for refuse removal.’’
The DA raised questions about the contract in council, where Executive Mayor, Cllr James Tsolela, defended the company stating that “it cannot be expected from a service provider to be able to have all the vehicles and equipment available to execute a contract like the refuse removal with seven days’ notice”.
Since it is now more than 100 days after the contract was awarded, the DA asked the Mayor to explain exactly how long it would take for a company awarded a multimillion Rand contract to start delivering refuse removal services.
“This appears to be another contract awarded to line the pockets of cadres instead of delivering services to residents,’’ Cllr Strydom said.
The DA submitted questions to Mayor Tsolela to be answered at the next Council meeting:
1. Whether Molebogeng has been paid in full per month as per the contract for refuse collection and how much has been paid to date;
2. What is the total number of operational trucks under this contract to date; what the delays are in meeting the contractual obligations; and.
3. Whether any penalties have been implemented for failure to meet contractual obligations?
