This was announced by Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment, Infrastructure and Services Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe.
MMC Mfikoe said household refuse collection services and work involving recyclables, bulk waste and dailies would not be affected by the festive season break, as would operations at land infill sites.
She urged residents to actively take part in preserving and protecting the environment by applying the three basic principles of waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle when disposing of waste.
MMC Mfikoe said though Pikitup would operate normally during the holiday period, there would be no street cleaning services in the Johannesburg inner city, especially in Hillbrow, on New Year’s Eve.
“This decision was taken to ensure the safety of Pikitup employees. However, plans have been put in place to clear the inner city on the morning of New Year’s Day,” she said.
MMC Mfikoe also called on residents not to hand over gifts to waste removal staff. Instead, she urged them to report imposters and staff approaching or harassing them for gifts or donations to the South African Police Service or on the City’s 24-hour toll-free hotline number 0800 00 25 87.
Alternatively, they could send an email to anticorruption@tip-offs.com or an SMS to 32840. SMSes cost R1.50 each.
“Corporate governance and zero-tolerance to corruption are of critical importance to Pikitup. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corrupt officials and practices,” MMC Mfikoe added.
