For three months cleaners contracted to the City were prevented from entering the community of two informal settlements – Wag ’n Bietjie and Sinethemba Village in Nomzamo, Strand.
According to Subcouncil 8 PR Councillor Unathi Lasisi, this was because community members complained that those who were employed to clean the informal settlements were not from the area. “In January residents took a decision to stop the cleaners from working in the area and no cleaning could be done for the past three months as the project was halted,” stated Lasisi, who added that he was only informed of this matter last month. He arranged a meeting with the community, officials from Solid Waste and the contractor to discuss the matter and listen to the complaints from the community.
“Residents said they stopped the project because no one from the community was employed by the contractor. The contractor explained that leaders from relevant communities were invited during the interview process in January and that as the contractor they were not aware that residents from the two informal settlements were not employed. Currently the contractor has employed 66 people from both Ward 85 and Ward 86,” said Lasisi.
He said that he convinced the residents to allow the contractor to continue its work and clean the area because the pollution was affecting residents. “I also assured that in the future we will ensure that people are employed from the areas that they reside in. I have also asserted that no Councillor should employ anyone but that the contractor should solicit names from the City and Subcouncil 8 database for each area through a randomisation process. This is to ensure that there is no nepotism and that opportunities are given to all residents,” said Lasisi, confirming that the project resumed on Saturday (9 April).
