Resident seeks answers from Pikitup

An Observatory resident expressed her concerns after waiting weeks for rubbish on her street to be picked up.

“The rubbish has been on the street for weeks now. I have tried to alert authorities to this but nothing gets done. I have even made the ward 66 councillor, Clr Carlos da Rocha, aware of the problem. Despite his efforts, the rubbish is still there,” said the resident, who wished to remain anonymous.

Clr Da Rocha shared the resident’s sentiments.

“I must agree with the resident. I do not know what has been happening at Pikitup, but they have absolutely gone backwards. I have not only been trying to get them to use their own initiative to clean up one spot, but the whole ward,” said Clr Da Rocha.

He showed the EXPRESS a number of e-mails in which he requested something be done. He said things cannot carry on like this as he might as well be “babysitting” the agency.

“I am a councillor, not a Pikitup employee. I should not have to drive around daily looking for dumps or dirty spots to report. They have well paid managers to do just that,” said Clr Da Rocha.

According to Clr Da Rocha, Pikitup staff “spend the whole day doing very little”.

“Just the other day, as I was taking stock of what was happening in Observatory, I noticed a team of four cleaners working on Eckstein Road. One of them was working; the other three were leaning on brooms or were on their cellular phones,” said Clr Da Rocha.

When he drove past Eckstein Road two hours later, only half the street had been swept.

“When I went back three hours later they were gone. The leaves they had swept up were lying in a pile in the storm water drain. That is what we are dealing with,” said Clr Da Rocha.

He said it was time for residents to take Pikitup on.

“I am glad the resident has complained, it will help in adding weight to my complaints. They will have to answer to the residents within two weeks at a meeting I am trying to organise. I hope the residents attend this meeting so that they can support me in my efforts for a better and cleaner suburb,” said Clr Da Rocha.

Mrs Pansy Oyedele, from the Communication and Stakeholder Department at Pikitup, said the illegally dumped refuse located behind the big oak tree on the corner of Frances and Innes roads in Observatory has been removed.

“We urge residents in the area to please adhere to the normal refuse collection schedule which takes place every Friday. Pikitup is aware of the illegal dumping which is occurring across all wards in the metro. We would like to remind residents that assistance is required from all the role players to prevent illegal dumping,” said Mrs Oyedele.

She said residents should contact the call centre if they witness any acts of illegal dumping.

“Once they have made the report, they will obtain a reference number which can be used to escalate the complaint if the dumping is not removed after 48 hours. The 48 hours applies to small bags and loose items,” said Mrs Oyedele.

She said that should residents have any further queries, Pikitup would encourages residents to contact Joburg Connect on 011 375-5555 or 0860 562874 (0860 JOBURG). Alternatively, visit www.pikitup.co.za

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