11/02/2026
Following a period of inconsistent service and growing frustration within our community, our Admin team recently held a high-level meeting with Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) at our request. The meeting included the Heads of the Recycling departments and Councillor Windvogel to address the ongoing failure of the orange bag recycling system and the shortage of black refuse bags.
While the designated Subcontractor was unfortunately absent, we used the platform to voice the community's concerns directly to city leadership.
Addressing the Orange Bag Backlog
The primary concern raised was the lack of consistency. Many of our roads have been bypassed for weeks, and the established collection schedule has effectively collapsed.
The immediate plan: CSW is currently working to allocate a dedicated truck for a backlog clearing operation this coming weekend. They have committed to providing us with a definitive answer by Friday. We will update our platforms the moment we receive confirmation so that residents can coordinate accordingly.
Supply Chain Issues: Orange and Black Bags
We have formally placed on record that our area has been sidelined regarding bag distribution:
- Orange Bags: We made it clear that residents have not received recycling bags for several months.
- Black Bags: CSW has indicated that they are currently out of stock but are aiming to have supplies replenished by February 16th.
Ensuring Long-Term Accountability
We didn’t just ask for a "quick fix." We provided CSW with a comprehensive list of every road in our area that has been neglected to ensure they have an accurate map of the failure.
Moving forward, we have established that any deviation from the schedule must be communicated to the community immediately. We have also formally stated that if the status quo remains unchanged, we will move to request Consequence Management. Our residents pay for service delivery, and we will hold the department and its subcontractors to those standards.
A Note of Thanks
This progress is a team effort. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Councillor Samantha for her presence and for backing our concerns with the weight of her office.
Special recognition goes to Marvin Naicker, who has taken the lead on the refuse portfolio, and Sarah Basson, for her invaluable "on-the-ground" insights. Their commitment ensures that the voices of our residents are heard in these meetings. They represented the Admin Team, Street Captains/Volunteers and residents with professionalism as well as a firm and honest fact based evidence of what we are experiencing.
We will continue to post updates here and on our community groups as soon as more information becomes available. We dont spectate we participate. So should you.
Sarah Basson, Marvin Naicker, Vishal Kanhai, Nomasonto Ncungama, Bronwynne Batstone & Wayne Erradu