Festive season: What Tshwane residents need to know about refuse collection schedules
The City of Tshwane has advised customers to take heed of refuse collection schedules this festive season and warned against bribery in municipal services.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Refuse removal schedules in the City of Tshwane will remain unchanged this festive season with an exception of Christmas Day when businesses and residents can expect service interruptions.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said refuse collections proceedings will continue as normal, including on public holidays, but customers must not take out their bins on Christmas Day.
“Customers whose refuse collection ordinarily takes place on Thursday, 25 December 2025 Christmas Day, are requested to place their bins out for collection on Friday, 26 December 2025. As a result, refuse normally collected on Fridays will be collected on Saturday, 27 December 2025. The standard refuse collection schedule will resume from Monday, 29 December 2025,” he said.
Additionally, all municipal waste disposal facilities, including landfills and garden refuse sites, will be closed on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Tshwane employees have been warned against taking bribes from residents in exchange for rendering municipal services.
Mashigo said: “The city reiterates that there are strict rules prohibiting municipal employees and contractors from soliciting money or gifts from residents during the festive season. Communities are equally discouraged from offering money or gifts, as this creates improper expectations and undermines the integrity of municipal services.”
He said any municipal employee or contractor found to be soliciting gifts, demanding payment, or intimidating customers will face firm disciplinary and contractual action, which may include termination of services and, where applicable, criminal investigation.
“Residents who are approached or harassed for gifts are urged, where safe to do so, to take note of the individual involved, record vehicle registration details, capture images if possible and report the incident immediately. The city calls on all residents to remain vigilant and to assist in protecting the integrity of municipal services by reporting all incidents of solicitation or bribery,” he said.
The municipality has also informed customers that municipal offices will be closed for the festive season from noon on December 24, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Mashigo said: “During this period, the city’s billing system will be taken offline to allow for scheduled system upgrades. As a result of the system downtime, finance officials will not be able to assist with payment arrangements or the unblocking of prepaid meters. Customers are therefore urged to finalise all billing-related matters before the closure period begins.”
Prepaid customers whose accounts are in arrears are advised that any electricity top-ups made during the closure period will go towards settling their outstanding debt.
Mashigo said: “Normal vending will only resume once all arrears have been settled through a prepaid vendor, after which electricity units will be allocated as usual. Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to settle their municipal accounts or make the necessary payment arrangements ahead of time to avoid service interruptions.”
He noted that as a result of this seasonal surge, the city’s licensing service centres are currently experiencing significantly higher volumes of clients.
“To manage this demand and improve service delivery, the city has assessed its operational capacity and implemented extended operating hours at licensing centres during the festive period. The city further appeals to residents to exercise patience and cooperation during this time, allowing officials sufficient opportunity to assist each client efficiently and fairly,” he said.
Residents have been encouraged to ensure that all licensing requirements are compliant and up to date, including motor vehicle licence disc renewals, vehicle roadworthy testing, driver’s licence renewals and applications for temporary driving licences.