Pikitup joins forces with JMPD
Protesters are demanding that Pikitup give them permanent employment
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has teamed up with Pikitup to curb the continuation of the illegal strike at some of Pikitup’s depots.
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has experienced the misfortune of illegal and violent protests since 26 July.
The protesters are demanding that Pikitup give them permanent employment regardless of the resources and capacity available. They have stoned Pikitup and Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) trucks, petrol-bombed and caused serious damage to Pikitup depots and intimidated CoJ employees. The protesters are also alleged to have poured petrol on senior Pikitup officials.
All these acts of criminality are aimed at bringing essential services to a halt for their personal benefit. Unfortunately, the residents of Joburg suffer the consequences of this selfish and criminal behaviour.
These are some of the actions JMPD has taken to address the issue in their efforts to protect City properties, vehicles and employees:
1. Intensified deployment of JMPD officials at all Pikitup depots to maintain peace and order,
2. Provision of police escorts to Pikitup trucks and operational staff so they can resume refuse collection without been intimidated or harmed,
3. Criminal cases have been opened with the Police to investigate and arrest the perpetrators.
In response to the matter, the MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun said, “While we respect the right of the public to protest, it is unacceptable that such protest is conducted in an unlawful and violent manner. JMPD has been given a directive that any criminal attempting to hold the City to ransom by disrupting service delivery will be arrested to face the full might of the law.”
A suspect has been arrested by JMPD for petrol-bombing the facility at the Pikitup Central Camp depot and JMPD is working closely with the Police on further arrests.
The MMC for Infrastructure and Environment Services, councillor Nico de Jager, has advised residents to dispose of their waste at Pikitup’s garden sites until the situation calms down. “Pikitup will be able to deal with all the service backlogs once the situation is conducive for it to render services to the residents,” he said.
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