Residents are fed-up with the lack of clarity with regard to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) strike, which is affecting service delivery.
The number of complaints focuses on the unsteady and unpredictable nature of the strike. Many residents want to know, ‘again, when will this end?’
City of Joburg‘s (Pikitup) recently condemned the strike by Samwu on 4 February.
This has been a long battle since as early as November 2015 when the Pikitup board met with Samwu leadership and management. In December the entities came to an agreement which stated:
• ‘Restore the relationship of trust’, reach agreement ‘in an amicable manner without apportioning blame’ and
• ‘Relieve the residents of the City of Johannesburg of the inconvenience brought to bear on their quality of life’.
In signing the agreement, the parties agreed to a ‘cessation of hostilities’.
Therefore the illegal work stoppage action is condemned by Pikitup.
Samwu responded on 8 February in a statement which read, ‘We are therefore concerned that in their quest to divide workers, Pikitup and the media mischievously decided to call this an illegal strike. We categorically deny that… our members were on a strike, be it illegal or otherwise.’
Ward 85 Councillor Carl Mann explained how a few residents have to deal with spilled or cracked bins. “This happens, according to Pikitup, because of the strong mechanisms in the trucks used during a strike or when their trucks are in for service. The mechanisms are much stronger than the usual ones and as a result, may crack the bin,” added Councillor Mann. He asked that if there are any residents experiencing this problem that they email him in order for Pikitup to replace the bins free of charge.
“Pikitup trusts that all employees will indeed desist from any further illegal action, failing which normal consequences will follow,” said Pikitup board secretary, Francois Dekker.
Complaints of lazy service delivery have also come to light. Pikitup addressed this by saying that they were experiencing delays in their refuse collection in certain areas.
COMMUNITY NOTICE pic.twitter.com/ON9bmBKQSB
— Pikitup (@CleanerJoburg) February 8, 2016
Anne Hanggi, a resident of Weltevreden Park said, “I live in a complex near Hillfox, in Cornelius Street and our rubbish was collected on Monday, thank goodness. They were late, but fortunately still came.”
Ward 89 Councillor Ingrid Reinten commented, “Most issues [concerning refuse collection] is in the Constantia Village part of Ward 89 area behind Builder’s Warehouse over the past weeks.”
“The Pikitup board apologises to residents of Joburg for the unacceptable failures in waste management services in the City. These failures are a threat to public and environmental health and deny residents of their legitimate expectation for the City to be clean.”
What are the challenges that you are facing with regard to Pikitup?
Is Samwu doing the right thing?
Detail: Ward 85 Councillor Carl Mann, carl@ward85jhb.co.za or 072 616 2025; Ward 89 Councillor Ingrid Reinten, ireinten@telkomsa.net or 083 440 0843.
