Tshwane waste removal contractors accuse the metro of 'killing black business'
The metro recently introduced new regulations stipulating that waste collection trucks cannot be older than nine years, should have trackers and be roadworthy.
Jacaranda trees in the City of Tshwane. Picture: South African Tourism/Flickr
JOHANNESBURG - Waste removal contractors dropped by the City of Tshwane Municipality for using old trucks have accused the capital city of killing "black businesses."
The metro recently introduced new regulations stipulating that waste collection trucks cannot be older than nine years, should have trackers and be roadworthy.
These new requirements have led to the municipality dropping about 60% of its old contractors whose vehicles did not meet the standards.
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Disgruntled businessman Musa Sibande said that the new regulations were introduced to disadvantage small township entrepreneurs, who are predominantly black.
"The exclusion of black people in the economy starts with them saying to us, they want new-ish trucks, show us new-ish trucks and why are you not paying people on time to buy those trucks."
Another businessman, Sbu Ndebele, said the City of Tshwane Municipality under the African National Congress (ANC) government came up with the programme of community-based contractors.
"They, themselves, appointed people to go and train us in the townships to do waste, maybe Cilliers Brink doesn't know that. He is dealing with the cherries and not dealing with everything in the bottom."
The contractors said they suspect they would be replaced by established big businesses, which can afford to buy new trucks.