Pikitup faces Randburg waste collection backlog
Frustrated Blairgowrie residents face three-week bin collection delays as municipal operations attempt a seven-day turnaround.
Pikitup faces another delay as rubbish bins remain unemptied outside homes in Blairgowrie and other parts of Randburg.
Ward 99 councillor Hendrik Bodenstein confirmed that some residents are going into week four, and the majority have been waiting two to three weeks for their bins to be collected.
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“I’m absolutely furious. We’ve had repeated disruptions throughout 2026, and residents have been expected to simply tolerate it,” he said.
He added that he has spent much of this year escalating missed collections, chasing officials and trying to get answers.
“We’re talking about a basic municipal service that residents pay for, yet Pikitup cannot consistently collect rubbish or even provide a credible recovery schedule. This isn’t just an inconvenience anymore. It’s a public health concern, a failure of municipal management and an insult to ratepayers.”
Clearing the backlog
The entity confirmed it is continuing to implement its recovery plan to address outstanding waste collection backlogs following recent service disruptions across parts of the city.
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Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe explained that the recovery operation is focused on clearing accumulated waste while ensuring that scheduled collections continue across areas where services have resumed.
Selepe said Randburg remains among the areas most affected by the backlog.
“Pikitup is prioritising these areas through ongoing operational interventions aimed at increasing collection capacity and accelerating the removal of accumulated waste.”
He added that based on current operational assessments, backlog clearance in these areas is anticipated to take approximately one week.
“This timeline will be closely monitored as recovery operations progress, with the focus remaining on restoring collections as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
The entity acknowledges that the ongoing delays have caused significant inconvenience to residents and businesses.
“We sincerely apologise to affected communities and recognise the importance of reliable and consistent waste collection services.”
Pikitup will continue to provide updates on the progress of the recovery operation as services are progressively stabilised.
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