Some protesters released
ALEXANDRA – Former city workers in protest over contract extension.
Thirteen of 23 former employees of the Jozi@Work programme, arrested on 5 February after a violent protest, were released by the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court.
The remainder will reappear in court 12 February.
They were arrested after allegedly attacking security guards at a Pikitup depot in Marlboro and intimidating Pikitup workers resulting in rubbish in the suburb and nearby Alexandra not being collected. The protesters are also said to have overturned a vehicle of a Pikitup service provider and held depot staff hostage until police intervened.
Read: Pikitup prioritises weekend rubbish collection in Alex (PICS & VIDEO)
The City said the protesters, from a total of 360 in the township out of 8 000 in the entire city, are demanding an extension of their temporary contracts which were terminated December last year.
The City’s MMC for Environmental and Infrastructure Nico de Jager had earlier said an investigation was in progress and ringleaders and instigators would be arrested and prosecuted.
The protest followed one in early January, prompted by former employees accusing Pikitup of not informing them of the expiry date of their contract. According to the City, this is despite their signing contracts stipulating a clear start and end date.
The City added that the move is linked to new short-term contracts entered into by the City with the government-sponsored, Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries, pending Pikitup’s rollout of a new community upliftment programme replacing Jozi@Work.
Read: Metro police called in to ensure safety of Pikitup workers
The City said preventing both Pikitup and EPWP employees from executing their cleaning duties was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, DA councillor Shadrack Mkhonto said to avert a likely health hazard, community members requested and were issued refuse bags to collect the rubbish to be picked up by trucks escorted by Metro police.
ANC councillor Adolph Marema decried the delay in introducing the new programme and other initiatives of the City, saying this prompted service delivery-related protests.
He urged the City to prioritise the former employees in the new programme.
Details: Environment and Infrastructure Services Department 083 899 2127.
