Protest leaders, senior Solid Waste officials, Stakeholder Engagement personnel and the Hout Bay Police Station commander, Wednesday 13 March, gathered for a meeting at the police station following protests that brought waste management in Imizamo Yethu to a standstill, while the drop-off point was completely closed down.
This according to an update posted by Ward 74 Roberto Quintas on Facebook.
Late Tuesday afternoon, 12 March, he described the protest as follows: “A group of Imizamo Yethu protestors took to Hout Bay Main Road in the vicinity of Saps and the Fire Station earlier today. The protesters demanded to meet with Solid Waste officials regarding the current contract to cleanse Imizamo Yethu.”
Quintas said the protest was linked to demands made over a week ago by the Imizamo Yethu Development Forum to have a set of handpicked names appointed to 19 EPWP (Expanded Public Works Programme) contract worker positions available for the cleaning and waste-management project.
“As a result of the intimidation and harassment that took place on Monday 11 March at the Hout Bay Roads Depot, the Hout Bay Ward Office and Library as well as Sports Complex and Solid Waste Drop Off Centre by so called ‘leaders’, multiple services are now suspended or have interrupted operations.”
He also warned residents that the ward office had also been closed, “meaning that those who walk in for assistance will not be able to receive help as the ward clerk is working from the subcouncil offices at Alphen Centre, Constantia.”
In a statement later released by the City, residents of Imizamo Yethu were informed that collection of bagged waste and litter picking in the area have been suspended until further notice.
“Community leaders are preventing waste management from taking place in this area due to dissatisfaction with the recruitment process,” it said. “They are demanding that their preferred candidates be employed.”
The City alleged protesters also blocked the entrance to the nearby municipal drop-off site, which has also been closed until it is deemed safe to reopen.
“The City is working urgently to facilitate the restoration of services as soon as possible. Law Enforcement has been engaged to assist.”
In the interim, the community is urged to take its bagged waste to the containers provided and to take extra care not to litter.
Residents can also visit the Retreat, Sea Point, Kommetjie or Wynberg drop-off sites as alternatives.
Attempts to reach station commander Lt Col Jerome Syster were unsuccessful at the time of publication, and efforts to get comment from the Imizamo Yethu Development Forum were ongoing.
