Waste collection services returned slowly to the Buffalo City Metro Municipality (BCM) this week, but still residents remain angry and sceptical.
Waste removal services were suspended this week amid labour unrest as former BCM temporary workers demanded permanent jobs.
Bins lay overturned in the streets of the municipality and refuse remained uncollected.
On Thursday, acting city manager Bob Naidoo said the industrial action had been ended after the metro opened a case of intimidation with police against the former temporary workers.
The Dispatch saw a few BCM teams cleaning and collecting refuse in parts of the city.
In other areas bags of rubbish were seen piled on the pavements.
In an BCM advert published in the Dispatch, Naidoo said BCM waste collectors were back at work.
However, irate residents said the municipality had failed the people of BCM.
Quigney resident John Weyer said: “It is sad to be led by leaders that fail to do the most basic services. This area used to be a marvel to visit. It could be a great tourist attraction with all the beauty at the beachfront but the filth is embarrassing.”
Dylan Johnson of Greenfields said: “We do not even know when the refuse truck is coming anymore. Piles of trash just stay stacked in streets for a whole week without any clue on when it will be collected. The municipality can at least offer us a clean city to live in.”
Oxford Street hawker Neziswa Mafanya said uncollected refuse had had a disastrous impact on trading in the CBD.
“We have become used to rats roaming around in the streets. Some corners smell like a dumpsite and this could lead to many sicknesses as people are exposed to all sorts of elements.”
In the advert, Naidoo apologised to metro residents for the interruption of refuse removal services this week.
Naidoo wrote: “This was due to an illegal action by former temporary employees of the municipality who blockaded our Cambridge waste depots and intimidated workers and threatened to destroy infrastructure.
“We have since opened a case with SAPS against the intimidation of our workers by these former temporary workers and are working with law enforcement to ensure that the impact of such acts is contained.”
“We have assured our workers about their safety and they are thus back at work, therefore restoring our waste management operations. We will be fully implementing a day and night shift system in order to address the backlog.”
He urged residents to get involved with the clean-up campaign which was launched last week.”..