Covid-19: Residents urged not to leave food for Pikitup workers

One thing that can certainly be said for City of Joburg residents is that they can always be depended on to look out for the good of other community members.

This was clear when a Facebook message asking residents to leave a tin of canned food on top of their Pikitup dustbins on bin collection days, recently went viral.

The post encouraged residents to thank Pikitup workers for working through the shutdown with food that could be shared among the team.

However, DA Joburg caucus leader, Leah Knott has asked community members to ignore this plea, for multiple reasons, including the welfare of the workers themselves.

In a post on her Facebook page, Knott noted, “In response to a message doing the rounds – Please don’t put sealed food or other items in your dustbins for Pikitup workers.

1. Tinned food may be left standing in the sun for three to four hours or longer turning it toxic.
2. This will provide an easy way of spreading the Covid-19 virus not only to Pikitup officials but also to various other homes and to the workers’ own families.
3. This may create an expectation for it to be done every week and will turn into a new Christmas box routine which is illegal.
4. There could be instances where bins are damaged or not emptied due to no compensation being given.
5. All Pikitup workers have received PPE and are earning normal salaries plus overtime. There is no reason to create an expectation that will become a problem in future.
6. If you want to donate food then please do so to reputable NGOs/ companies supplying indigent residents with food.”

With that being said, there are a number of organisations still collecting goods for those in need. The Windsor shelter is at full capacity and is currently working with the City of Johannesburg to find alternative sites for the City’s most vulnerable residents. They are in need of mattresses, food, plastic aprons, gas cylinders and so on.

The City of Johannesburg is also appealing for donations.

But while residents have been urged not to give donations to Pikitup workers, they have also been encouraged to sanitise their bins before putting them out, and before bringing them back in.

“Please make sure that your dustbin handles are sanitised when you take it in and out of your property and, if you can, use gloves to move it. The Covid-19 virus can spread rapidly through all the people who handle our bins,” said Knott.