By Nangamso Mabindla
8 March 2007

DEPOTS set up around Buffalo City have brought municipal services closer to the people.

The depots, opened in places like Dimbaza, Zwelitsha, Bhisho and Berlin, offer access to municipal functions such as waste management, cemeteries and sports fields.

Staff from departments like waste management, environmental services and amenities man the depots, where residents are able to get information on a range of services provided by the municipality. Before they were opened people had to travel to towns like King William's Town to enquire about municipal services.

The City's assistant manager for waste management inland, Simphiwe Gwana, said that people from places like Dimbaza now found it easier to interact with the municipality. "If their refuse is not collected, residents can now report that to one of our depots so that the municipality can do something about that.

"There [are] trained people to deal with issues related to service delivery."

However, they were not only able to answer queries about municipal services, educational material on waste management and related issues was also available.

"People can come and ask about how to recycle waste, and also learn about how they can make compost in their backyards. People will benefit from these services and we are happy that we will now work closer with residents," Gwana added.

He urged residents to use these depots so that service delivery could be smoother.