The city of Johannesburg (CoJ) and Pikitup have given an update about the ongoing strike of Pikitup’s casual workers.
The disgruntled workers took to the streets a few weeks ago, demanding permanent contracts with the waste management company.
The protesters blocked entrances to depots, prevented labourers and trucks from accessing the depots, and this morning, May 22, they left the streets of Roodepoort CBD covered in trash.
CoJ’s city manager Floyd Brink and Pikitup managing director Bukelwa Njingolo briefed the media, hoping to clarify the ongoing protest and ensure ratepayers that service delivery would be back to normal.
Njingolo stated that Pikitup is committed to initiating immediate clean-up actions and has engaged their service providers, who will be providing them with additional resources.
Although the city typically has 351 vehicles, many of them are provided by outside parties. Pikitup and these contractors have now agreed for Pikitup to provide more labour.
“We are engaging with management throughout the depots, which we believe has a challenge, especially where perpetrators are standing at the gate. We are engaging with them before we involve law enforcement agencies so that we can understand their challenges,” she said.
During the briefing, Njingolo stated that the recruitment phase had already begun in December and Phase Two is set to be completed in July.
It was stated that although there were no formal contracts with Pikitup, the casual workers would be considered for employment.
Njingolo also confirmed that five people were arrested in connection with the protests and that seven out of 12 depots are currently functional.
