Pikitup casual workers down tools in parts of Midrand

Various parts of Midrand have been left with uncollected waste collections following Pikitup’s casual workers protest.

Midrand, President Park, Ebony Park and parts of Rabie Ridge have not had their waste collected which usually happens on Friday and Monday. The protest began on May 16, after the casual workers accused the waste entity of not giving them permanent employment as their contracts were about to expire.

This comes after Pikitup allegedly advertised posts, which some of the casual workers the paper spoke to claim to have applied for, but have not been able to get. They say this is despite serving Pikitup for years now but in return, corruption and nepotism play a role in them not getting jobs.

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The workers also alleged that those who received employment were either related or closely connected to the top management.

Midrand Reporter visited the Midrand depot in Rabie Ridge on May 17, where hundreds of disgruntled workers were protesting outside the depot.

One of the casual workers, who works at the Midrand depot, Judith Makgolo, claimed they were made to sign contracts annually. “They have been doing this since 2019 because they want to employ their relatives in permanent jobs. We applied and followed all the procedures, but no one from the casual workers was appointed.”

Another worker, Bonginkosi Damane from Kaalfontein in Ward 92, said he has been a casual worker since 2017 .“It’s been a long since I worked for Pikitup. There is a lady who works here, who appointed two of her sons to permanent posts. Until they meet our demands, waste will not be collected.”

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Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkwanazi said they have deployed the Public Order Policing (POP) unit to remove protesters obstructing its depots. This is to ensure that permanent employees can resume waste collection services in the city.
“POP units have been instructed to arrest and remove these lawbreakers to allow Pikitup staff to perform their duties. Additionally, private security personnel and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department will escort employees as they provide services to residents.
“It is important to clarify that the current protest action is not a strike by Pikitup’s employees but by casual workers. This means that members of the South African Municipal Workers Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union, the recognised unions within the organisation, are not on strike,” said Mkhwanazi.

He said Pikitup remains committed to engaging with protesters’ representatives to find an amicable solution.

In a statement, the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union South Africa (Demawusa) said they were calling for immediate investigations of the bogus Pikitup interviews in Midrand House and for the absorption of the casual workers.

Demawusa general secretary Meshack Ntshauba said it has been speculation for quite some time that there were interviews that were conducted by the Pikitup top brass to secure those lucrative contracts meant for the children, brothers and sisters.

They possess a photo of the house situated in Liebenberg Road in Noordwyk which had a notice pinned saying, Dear Candidate, you are invited to attend an interview for the General Worker position at Pikitup on April 11 at 09:30.
Ntshauba wants to know if the vacancies were for genuine reasons why it was conducted not at Pikitup offices but elsewhere far from the normal workplace?

He further asked, why were the available vacancies not filled up by those casual workers already cleaning the streets of the city since they already knew the job and that there was no special skill that prompted Pikitup to seek the skill externally. What was the reason for these hidden interviews?

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Pikitup frantically erect temporary depot to appease workers to return to work