Nelson Mandela Bay recruits over 100 workers to boost waste management

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has appointed 111 solid waste workers in a bid to improve waste management, restore hygiene and create cleaner neighbourhoods across the metro.

The new recruits will focus on essential cleaning services, such as street sweeping, litter picking, emptying bins, and loading refuse.

The services are expected to significantly improve the quality of life in communities by

tackling litter, keeping public spaces safe and fostering civic pride.

Speaking at an induction meeting, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Health, Thsonono Buyeye, welcomed the appointments, describing them as long overdue.

"We have been mobilising funds and engaging our Human Resources Sub-directorate to expedite these appointments. Our people have been telling us that their neighbourhoods are filthy and for a few years we did not have enough manpower. I am happy that we will have people on the ground,” Buyeye said.

“The workers have resumed their duties from 1 September 2025, [and] we expect to see the difference in our streets. A cleaner living environment will soon be something of the past," Buyeye said.

Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the recruitment was part of the metro’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) priorities, which were shaped by extensive community consultations.

“Through our IDP Public Participation meetings that we convened throughout the metro, our people have been telling us that the city is dirty. We have responded with action — the picture of the city will never be the same," Lobishe said.

The workers will be deployed across depots to ensure citywide coverage.

Clean cities and towns campaign

The municipality’s efforts come as government rolls out the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, launched in June by Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The campaign marks a comprehensive approach to urban cleanliness and community engagement.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy President stressed that the campaign goes beyond mere cleaning but addresses broader service delivery issues and creates opportunities for community employment.

“However, the idea is not really to employ people, it’s a voluntary programme. People must clean where they live. There may be instances where the city may employ people here and there, but we want to create a culture of cleaning where people don’t have to be paid to clean where they live,” the Deputy President said. – SAnews.gov.za