About 40 waste management workers have been dismissed with immediate effect after allegedly preventing the collection of waste in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg.
The workers are also alleged to have intimidated and assaulted other employees of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
In a statement, the City of Ekurhuleni alleges that the workers harassed, assaulted and intimidated a crew collecting waste in the area on Saturday.
A truck driver and an operator were allegedly doused with petrol during the assault, but managed to escape uninjured while their truck was set alight.
The employees are also accused of trying to halt waste collection services.
Ekurhuleni says this conduct has endangered the lives and safety of operators and expects that it will implement an operational plan for clearing the waste backlog and continue rendering service in the area.
?MEDIA RELEASE
FORTY WASTE WORKERS DISMISSED FOR PREVENTING COLLECTION OF WASTE pic.twitter.com/QAGV4RhcXA
— CITY OF EKURHULENI (@City_Ekurhuleni) February 3, 2020
The waste collection backlog in some parts of Kempton Park, Boksburg, Springs and Germiston will be attended to tomorrow.
Residents whose waste was not collected in theses areas are advised to ensure their bins are outside for collection.
CoE apologies for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/o4KeXNIrkV
— CITY OF EKURHULENI (@City_Ekurhuleni) February 1, 2020
