Pikitup clean-up is slow to start

The streets of downtown Johannesburg are filled with dirt left by the striking Pikitup workers. File picture: Boxer Ngwenya

The streets of downtown Johannesburg are filled with dirt left by the striking Pikitup workers. File picture: Boxer Ngwenya

Published Dec 1, 2015

Share

Johannesburg - Most of central Joburg’s streets remained covered in litter on Monday, despite promises by Pikitup that it had made plans to clear the garbage.

Motorists and pedestrians had to navigate their way through stinking refuse in the Joburg CBD.

A group of people, believed to be striking Pikitup employees, were seen spilling bins and trashing parts of Pritchard, Albertina Sisulu and Eloff streets. They also smashed concrete rubbish bins onto the tar and rolled others into the streets to obstruct traffic.

On Sunday, Pikitup’s managing director Amanda Nair had said private service providers, among them the Red Ants, would be contracted to clean about 300 000 tons of waste in the city.

On Monday, Pikitup spokesman Jacky Mashapu insisted that the clean-up operation in the Joburg CBD and other parts of the city was a success.

“There are pockets in the CBD that still need attention but we have been successful. Residents must also make sure that they do not litter; we must work together.”

Mashapu said the operation also went well in other areas, among them the Waterfall region in Midrand, Marlboro and Noordgesig.

“In some areas it was slower as we are still showing the service providers how to conduct waste management. By the end of this week, all our service providers will be on top of things. We are satisfied at the pace the operation is going.”

Mashapu said Pikitup would not hold talks with employees who are on an unprotected strike. “We are not going to legitimise an illegal strike. We told the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) that workers must return to work. Only then can we engage in a healthy and cordial environment.”

Samwu’s chairman Johannes Phalamashweu has reiterated the union’s demand for Nair to resign. The union has accused her of being corrupt and of victimising workers.

The member of the mayoral committee for environment and infrastructure services, Matshidiso Mfikoe has called on Samwu to produce proof to back up its accusations.

[email protected]

The Star

* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.

Related Topics: