Pikitup strike is now a health hazard and human rights issue

Pikitup is losing at least R1 million a day due to its employee strike while furious residents now also have to contend with a rat epidemic caused by the rubbish that is not being removed.

Pikitup had to hire outside additional labour over the past three weeks to try and render services to the residents of Johannesburg. These additional services are now being interrupted by striking workers threatening the additional workers. On Thursday night (23 March) shots were fired at two Pikitup trucks along Rand Show Road near Nasrec, which caused the vehicles to collide. Fortunately, the drivers managed to get away unharmed.

The health hazard caused by the rodents running rampant through the suburbs is a growing concern. Residents are also desperately trying to cope with overflowing dustbins and filthy streets.

A resident of Cosmo City, Nthabiseng Thukani said this is the worst time they could have chosen to strike. “The children are on holiday and they are playing around in dirt and germs,” said Thukani. She said the many rats are not only a health hazard but residents fear that they will bite through the cables of their cars.

Angry residents are asking why they are still paying for the service when their refuse is not removed. Pikitup spokesperson, Jacky Mashapu said, “We do not bill per collection but, each collection is billed at the value of its property.” He said that it is unfortunate that residents are threatening to stop paying, “This is a matter the revenue department will have to look at,” he added.

RDM Auto Services Fontainebleau Manager Adrian Pizani confirmed that rat damage to car cables is not a myth and that rats are attracted to the warmth of the car. “We have had two cars that have come in the last week due to rats biting through the cables.” said Pizani. He said that the damage was worth R2 800.

“I am not a rocket scientist but the strike could be contributing to the increase in the number of rats,” he said.

The strike started more than three weeks ago when 3 500 Pikitup workers decided to stage a walkout demanding a salary increase and they were also demanding the removal of Pikitup CEO Amanda Nair.

Residents have been facing difficulties regarding the garbage that has not been collected, “I ask you to help us, please, it just cannot continue,” said Windsor West resident Marie Viljoen.

Viljoen said that the rubbish in Windsor West has not been removed for three weeks, “It really has become a human rights issue,” she said.

She said she knows that the workers are striking, but management had promised that there will be arrangements to remove the waste. “I completely understand why the workers demand that Amanda Naicker must go, I see no management,” said Viljoen. She said that this is not the first time this year and it has happened many times previously.

She concluded and said that they really do not know where to turn to for help next.

Some Resident Associations have taken it upon themselves to get their rubbish removed, “We used private companies to remove rubbish at a cost to each individual household who required the service,” said Radiokop Residence Association Chairman Greg Olsen.

Johannesburg is battling a rat epidemic. Residents are complaining that their suburbs are being overrun by the rodents. “, causing the death of two inmates from leptospirosis, an infectious disease carried in rat urine, prompting a mass evacuation of inmates to other prisons.

Now people working with the homeless say the rodents are running rampant through the city’s shelters.

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