{"id":268038,"date":"2025-07-31T20:05:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T18:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/?p=268038"},"modified":"2025-07-31T20:09:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T18:09:12","slug":"opinion-black-bag-backlog-fuels-frustration-for-project-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/opinion-black-bag-backlog-fuels-frustration-for-project-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION | Black bag backlog fuels frustration for project workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>EPWP workers, Kimberley:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Workers employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) at the <a href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/valid-reasons-for-go-slow-says-epwp-general-workers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sol Plaatje Municipality Project<\/a>, specifically those stationed at sites in all 33 wards, and mostly in De Beers, are facing significant challenges due to a persistent backlog of black bags that are not being removed despite repeated reports from their team leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The issue has been ongoing, with workers expressing frustration and concern about the impact on their work, environment and overall job performance. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to sources within the project, the team leader has reported the matter to the office multiple times, but so far, no effective solution has been implemented.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We understand the importance of maintaining a clean and safe working environment,&#8221; said an EPWP worker at the site. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;However, the continuous accumulation of black bags is not only an eyesore, but also poses health and safety risks. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We hope that our concerns will be addressed soon.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sol Plaatje Municipality Project aims to provide employment opportunities and skills development for local residents through the EPWP. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the current situation highlights the need for improved communication, management, and problem-solving to ensure the project&#8217;s success.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It remains to be seen how the project management will address this issue and provide a solution to the workers&#8217; concerns. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, the workers continue to hope for a prompt resolution to the backlog of black bags and a safer, more efficient working environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"667\" data-attachment-id=\"268076\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/opinion-black-bag-backlog-fuels-frustration-for-project-workers\/black-bags2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1667\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1753867401&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"black bags2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2-1024x667.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2-1024x667.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-268076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/noordkaapbulletin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bags2-768x500.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some of the black bags that are not collected. Photo: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EPWP workers in Kimberley face significant challenges due to a persistent backlog of uncollected black bags, impacting their work and safety despite multiple reports to 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of the black bags that were filled by workers of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), but are not collected by the Sol Plaatje Municipality. Photo: Supplied","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"Black bag backlog fuels frustration","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":["nb 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