Nelson Mandela Bay’s drive to reclaim its reputation as one of the cleanest cities in South Africa has received a major boost with the arrival of eight brand-new refuse compactor trucks on Monday, 8 December 2025.
The trucks were officially unveiled at the Markman municipal depot by MMC for Public Health, Cllr Thsonono Buyeye, marking a significant step in strengthening the metro’s waste management efforts. The Municipality has invested R60 million this financial year toward upgrading its waste fleet, with the new compactors forming part of this major procurement.
Addressing a Long-Standing Shortage
For the metro to operate at full efficiency, a fleet of 38 refuse trucks is required. At present, the Municipality owns only 16, relying heavily on private service providers to meet daily refuse collection demands. The newly acquired vehicles will be deployed immediately to support an overstretched Waste Management Sub-directorate, where ageing trucks and mechanical breakdowns have frequently delayed operations.
“This is our ongoing effort to regain our rightful place as one of the cleanest cities in the country,” said Cllr Buyeye. “With consistent improvements, we know we’ll turn the corner. We’re happy that procurement is complete and that these trucks are ready to work.”
Call for Community Support
MMC Buyeye urged residents to help protect the new trucks, noting that municipal fleet vehicles have previously been targeted by criminals while on duty.
“We call on residents—our customers—to assist us in safeguarding these assets. The Municipality cannot do it alone,” he emphasised.
Part of Broader IDP Priorities
The fleet expansion is aligned with the Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget priorities—reflecting public input received during recent participation processes.
Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe welcomed the progress, saying that improvements within Public Health and Waste Management are already showing results, but the journey is far from over.
“While we appreciate these efforts funded through ratepayers’ money, we know there is still work to do. With the ageing fleet issue being resolved, we need communities to meet us halfway—take out refuse on time, stop and report illegal dumping, and help protect municipal assets,” she said.
With stronger fleet capacity and a renewed push for community cooperation, Nelson Mandela Bay is gearing up for a cleaner, more efficient future.
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