Pikitup operations disrupted in Alex
Waste collection could not be completed in Alexandra on June 6 as employees of the waste management entity Pikitup abandoned the collections due to threats and acts of intimidation from disgruntled former members of a contracted cooperative whose expired contract was not renewed when it lapsed on May 6.
Disgruntled members of a former co-operative whose contract with the City of Johannesburg was not renewed on expiry have been accused of disrupting the waste collection services in the township.
In a statement, the city said workers from its waste management entity Pikitup were unable to render their normal waste collection services in Alexandra on June 6.
The city said this ‘unattainable’ situation emanated from threats and acts of intimidation against its employees. Members of the co-operative, whose contract expired on May 6, stand accused of carrying out the threats and acts of intimidation.
“Scheduled waste collection in Alexandra today [June 6] could not continue as members of the said co-operative threatened Pikitup staff members with violence and forcefully removed waste from trucks and thrashed the roads in the area,” the statement read.
The city accused the members of the co-operative of ‘forcefully demanding permanent employment from Pikitup’.
Meanwhile, Pikitup is said to be working closely with the Metro police and other stakeholders to resolve the issue soon.
The city entity has apologised for the service disruptions in the area and appealed to residents for patience and understanding while the issue is being resolved.
Pikitup has assured residents that once the issue is resolved a recovery plan will be put in motion to ensure that the waste backlog experienced as a result of the abandonment of collections will be addressed.
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