Residents in Ward 94 have voiced growing frustration after Pikitup failed to collect refuse for several days, raising concerns about public health and forcing some households to pay for private waste removal services.

Ward 94 councillor David Foley said refuse had not been collected since Monday, leaving bins overflowing and creating unhygienic conditions in the area. “The Pikitup bins have not been collected yet and, of course, there’s a health risk. It’s smelly, and there’s the potential for rats.”

Read more: Pikitup’s guide to reporting waste

He advised residents with damaged refuse bins to apply to Pikitup for replacements, saying properly sealed bins help contain odours and prevent rodents from accessing waste.

Foley said he had been engaging with several members of Pikitup’s management throughout the week to understand the reasons behind the delays. “They’ve been saying that temporary workers and some financial costs are part of the challenge.”

Foley said he spoke directly with Pikitup’s chief operating officer, who indicated that there was a strong possibility refuse collection would resume on Friday morning, although this was still awaiting confirmation.

In the meantime, residents needing to dispose of garden refuse have been encouraged to use the Marlboro garden refuse site as a temporary measure.

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Foley said some residents had already been forced to hire private contractors to remove their rubbish, at a cost of between R50 and R75 per bin. “I know a lot of residents have paid private contractors to take away their rubbish. That’s an extra cost to residents, yet we’re already paying our rates.

“We shouldn’t be paying for this. The service should be delivered. The question is whether Pikitup is going to give us a credit for not collecting this week or not.”

Foley also encouraged residents to register to vote, saying active public participation is key to ensuring accountable leadership and improved service delivery.

Fourways Review reached out to Pikitup’s Muzi Mkhwanazi on July 21 for comment regarding the delayed refuse collections. The enquiry was not acknowledged. A follow-up call was made on July 22, but he only responded the following day, indicating that he was on sick leave.

We then contacted Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe on July 23 for comment. Despite follow-up attempts on July 24, no response had been received by the time of publication.

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