Niël Terblanché
Residents of Walvis Bay have expressed mounting frustration over delayed refuse removal services, citing broken refuse trucks as the root cause of the problem. Overflowing bins and litter scattered by animals and vagrants have become a regular sight, sparking complaints about the municipality’s slow response.
“All the refuse removal trucks are broken. People are complaining about overflowing bins, and rubbish is being strewn all over by dogs and people. It feels like nothing is happening,” lamented a resident on a neighbourhood community social media group.
To address the issue, the municipality resorted to using teams of workers equipped with skips and pick-up trucks to remove refuse last week. However, this interim measure has failed to ease the community’s growing concerns because it took about two days for bins to be emptied.
Anita Kahiva, the municipality’s spokesperson, confirmed the operational challenges, stating that the town’s refuse removal operations have been severely impacted by mechanical breakdowns.
“Refuse removal trucks are mostly unavailable, and the two currently deployed are unreliable, constantly needing repairs. We are behind with refuse collection across Walvis Bay,” she admitted.
To mitigate the disruptions, the municipality has advised residents to adjust their waste disposal habits temporarily. “Bins should only be placed outside after 17h00 on the designated refuse removal days. While collection days remain unchanged, delays are inevitable due to our limited capacity. We regret the inconvenience caused,” Kahiva added.
In response to widespread dissatisfaction, the council has issued an apology and assured residents that the issue is being prioritised. “Council acknowledges the current delays in refuse removal services and sincerely apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused. We understand your frustration and are committed to addressing the issue promptly to ensure reliable service delivery,” Kahiva said.
Repairs to the existing fleet are underway, and the municipality anticipates that services will normalise during the week of 20–24 January. Looking ahead, Kahiva outlined the council’s long-term plan to improve waste management infrastructure.
“Council is planning to acquire five new refuse trucks in the 2025/2026 financial year. This will significantly enhance our capacity and reliability to meet the growing demand of our city,” she said.
