City of Joburg MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) councillor Mpho Moerane launched Pikitup’s new co-production model at the company’s Southdale depot on February 3.
The co-production model is expected to create 2025 employment opportunities in all the regions of the City of Johannesburg and is supportive of the #KleenaJoburgReloaded clean-up campaign, in addition to augmenting Pikitup’s operations.
In terms of the model, each ward in the City will be capacitated with 15 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees, who will assist with waste management issues.
This model entails the appointment of co-operatives, NPCs and exempted micro-enterprises to ensure improved integrated waste management services in the City.
Pikitup has appointed 48 such companies that will, in turn, appoint EPWP workers to assist with the management of litter-picking, street cleaning and conducting education and awareness programmes. During the launch, the MMC emphasised the importance of taking ownership of the City’s cleanliness by all who reside in it.
“It is easy to blame government for everything each time our City is littered with trash. However, as we launch this programme today to help enhance cleanliness in our streets, it is important for us to note that the responsibility to keep our City clean remains with all of us,” the MMC said.
He also warned the co-operative to hire people who reside in their wards because such people will be responsible for ensuring locals do not litter nor dispose of waste illegally.
Although JMPD is responsible for by-law enforcement, which includes arresting and imposing fines on people who litter and those who dump waste illegally, their efforts were insufficient because of a range of reasons. As such, the MMC emphasised that educating residents about the importance of a clean environment was the best option available to ensure a cleaner Joburg.
He said the work of the appointed co-operatives, NGOs and microenterprises was critical in ensuring Joburg rids itself of the tag of being a dirty City.
He also said the EPWP workers who will be employed must also be responsible for recording and reporting incidences such as potholes, dysfunctional traffic lights, leaking pipes and monitoring of and managing illegal dumping spots, ensuring such spots do not recur in future.
The MMC also stressed that the people who are going to be employed must be furnished with Covid-19 protective clothing.
“I do not want to be called and asked how is it possible that half of the people who have been employed are now Covid-19 positive. Covid-19 is serious, and I urge all the cooperatives that will be employing the people to ensure their employees are protected against the virus.”
The MMC also appealed to the co-operatives to work with ward councillors to mitigate possible cases of people who might demand to be employed without following the correct processes.
Pikitup MD Bukelwa Njingolo attended the event.
