More than 18000 volunteers have been deployed to help clean up the eThekwini municipality following the aftermath of a disruptive illegal strike that not only halted the city’s basic services but also led to tragic violence.
The eThekwini Municipality announced significant progress in resuming refuse removal and other essential services, with mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, leading a press briefing on Wednesday March 13 to address the current situation and outline future plans.
In a bid to accelerate recovery, the municipality, with the support of the provincial government and the private sector, has initiated a large-scale clean-up operation.
“Since last week, a team of 300 volunteers has been put together to clean the Durban Central Business District and secondary CBDs, such as Pinetown, Isipingo, Verulam, oThongathi and Hillcrest. Priority has been given to healthcare facilities and businesses,” said Mr Kaunda.
“Now we have them and this deployment of over 18000 volunteers across the city, focusing on heavily impacted areas and essential facilities like healthcare centres.”
He also reported a promising return to work by the majority of municipal employees, particularly within critical units such as engineering, electricity, and water and sanitation. “The increase in staff returning to work gives us hope that the service-delivery challenges we’ve been facing will soon be resolved,” Mr Kaunda said optimistically.
The city has been grappling with a massive service-delivery backlog, a direct consequence of the strike action initiated by members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).
Mr Kaunda expressed confidence that the waste collection backlog would be cleared within the next two weeks, noting that 80 percent of the city’s depots are now fully operational.
The strike was marred by violence, resulting in the death of a supervisor in the Cemetery and Crematoria Department, and injuries to other staff members. Mr Kaunda extended his condolences to the deceased’s family and assured that the police are diligently working to bring the perpetrators to justice. The city is also closely monitoring the recovery of those injured during the strike, with investigations into two cases of attempted murder under way.
The illegal strike has led to significant legal and disciplinary repercussions, with 81 employees suspended and 1 891 receiving notices for misconduct. In addition, 88 individuals have been dismissed for their participation in the strike. Thirteen workers appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on charges related to public violence and the tampering with essential infrastructure, with the court case set to continue in May.
Mr Kaunda highlighted the on-going efforts to ensure water supply, especially to critical institutions like schools and hospitals. He commended the dedication of employees and volunteers who have been instrumental in restoring services amidst the crisis.
