The Mangaung Metro currently lacks to capacity to properly manage its landfill sites and the Northern Landfill faces closure within the next six months.

This is some of the revelations that was made at the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).

Selmé Pretorius, DA Ward Councillor, said in a news release on Thursday 18 June the DA will seek urgent clarity on contingency measures from the Mangaung Metro.

This follows a news release on Wednesday by the metro’s communications department that the implementation of the approved landfill site tariffs which was scheduled to take effect on 1 July, has been temporarily postponed.

The proposed tariffs were heavily disputed by waste management companies, but after the metro realigned the new tariffs to make it more affordable, some businesses warned that the metro’s landfills sites are far from ready of implementing the tariffs.

In the statement made by acting communications manager Nicolette Maysiels, she said the decision to postponed the application of tariffs follows a comprehensive internal assessment that identified several operational and technical challenges before the system can be implemented effectively, accurately and fairly.

“The assessment revealed critical infrastructure and operational constraints including delays in the repair and full operationalisation of weighbridges, electrical supply challenges such as low voltage and intermittent power interruptions.”

She said the metro is now addressing these challenges by repairing the weightbridges and other infrastructure, stabilisation operational systems and and resolving electricity supply constraints.

But much bigger challenges was revealed by the City Manager Sello More at the SCOPA meeting, including the fact that the closing of the Northern Landfill site faces closing within the next six months.

During the hearing, More stated that Mangaung has received a letter from the relevant department requiring the closure of the Northern Landfill within six months. He further acknowledged that the municipality does not currently have the capacity to operate and manage its landfill sites effectively.

The City Manager further described the challenges at the Southern Landfill as “deep challenges” and referred to it as “a den of thieves”, highlighting serious concerns regarding security, criminal activity, environmental compliance and operational management.

“Waste management is a core municipal responsibility. Residents pay rates and taxes with the expectation that refuse will be collected, landfill sites will be properly managed, and environmental laws will be complied with,” Pretorius said.

“Mangaung cannot continue operating in a perpetual crisis-management mode. The municipality requires professional management, proper planning, strong oversight, effective environmental compliance and the technical capacity necessary to perform its basic functions.

“For years, residents have witnessed declining service delivery, deteriorating infrastructure and growing governance failures. The SCOPA hearing has now confirmed that these problems extend to the municipality’s landfill operations.