A councillor has expressed concern on what he says is council’s reliance on residents to clean up their areas as the Pikitup strike by South African Municipal Workers Union enters its fifth week.
The strike has left the streets filthy, raising concerns by residents and the council of disease outbreaks, compensation to residents for work done, and the fear of an uncontrollable boom in the population of disease-carrying rats.
Acting voluntarily, Alex residents started cleaning the streets from 2 and 3 April. The council has, subsequently, supported the residents and volunteers with refuse bags, gloves, brooms, masks, refuse collecting trucks and Metro police escorts to protect them against threats from the Samwu-led strikers.
The Democratic Alliance councillor, Shadrack Mkhonto said the community’s effort shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Their volunteering is to bridge the gap in anticipation of the strike ending soon. Council should not expect the residents who have their own other work and household responsibility to bear the task indefinitely. Their patience will not withstand the prolonged effects and lack of decisive leadership to end the strike,” said Mkhonto in reference to rubbish which is again starting to accumulate in areas they had already cleaned.
Mkhonto added that the delay in resolving the impasse will also make it difficult for councillors to encourage residents to volunteer if there was no guarantee of the strike ending.
He urged council to exercise bold leadership after it pronounced the strike as illegal and unprotected and that it was not likely to approve of their demanded salary increase.
Meanwhile, the Commission of Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration has been drawn in to help resolve the impasse.
