ALMOST half of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s bucket collection trucks are not on the road, hampering the city’s ability to provide a biweekly pail-collection service. This, and staff shortages, are a major challenge which forces staff to work overtime and at weekends just to be able to service all the areas. A report to the municipal public accounts committee yesterday says about 18 000 bucket toilets are collected and emptied by the metro. “The division is operating with only five of the nine trucks. The ageing fleet in use is continuously sent to the automotive division for repairs,” it says. “Two new trucks are being modified and fleet management services is to indicate as to when they will be available for use.
“The unavailability of the fleet impacts on the consistency of the pail service. “This means the wastewater conveyance division is at present unable to schedule specific days for servicing areas, as areas are serviced in accordance with the availability of fleet.” The municipality’s director of water and sanitation, Barry Martin, said three trucks would be added to the fleet soon. Councillors have also asked Martin to submit a report detailing the challenges in the infrastructure and engineering department which are causing a slow response to service delivery complaints. Ward 28 councillor (ANC) Buyelwa Mafaya complained that she continuously reported water leaks and potholes in her ward, but there appeared to be a problem with the officials who were supposed to ensure the problems were fixed.