Pikitup continues to dismiss workers as protest continues

The City of Joburg and the Pikitup Board welcomed the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU)’s call for its members at the waste management entity to return to work.

Pikitup workers embarked on an illegal strike last week and pre-dismissal notices have now been issued as a result of their failure to return to work by 10 March.

Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, MMC for the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department previously said that Pikitup had a contingency plan and would roll it out to ensure that the City of Joburg remained clean despite the high cost of hiring contractors.

According to Pikitup spokesperson Jacky Mashapu, the workers have failed to heed the call from their own union to return to work by 11 March. “Following the unruly behavior of workers during the recent illegal strike where the City’s assets were damaged, 19 workers have been arrested thus far and 11 of them were released due to lack of evidence while the others are set to appear in court on charges of malicious damage to property and intimidation,” Mashapu added.

He reiterated that the waste management utility expected more arrests and pointed out that residents and business owners were advised to take out their bins as per their normal refuse schedule starting from 14 March. “Areas where bins were not collected on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be serviced as per the areas’ normal refuse collection schedule and the collection will continue into the night. The bins must be left out during the night,” Mashapu said.

Mashapu urged residents and business owners to contact the Pikitup Call Centre for any complaints related to refuse collection and other related queries.

“We apologise to residents and business owners for the inconvenience caused by the protest action,” Mashupa said.

Contact Details: Pikitup, 0860 562874.

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