WATCH: Pikitup disruption hits as Johannesburg south as refuse trucks remain idle
Councillors are seeking answers as contractors reportedly remain unable to operate and residents face growing refuse backlogs.
Households in Johannesburg South are facing mounting rubbish piles as a reported financial stand-off brings waste removal to a halt.
The disruption is linked to an alleged non-payment dispute involving Pikitup, the City of Joburg and its contractors.
Ward 23 councillor Tyrell Meyers says concerns about the situation first emerged last week, although details were initially unclear.
@southern.courier Residents face growing rubbish backlogs as councillors seek clarity on service disruptions and alternative waste disposal options. Full story on southerncourier.co.za
Meyers says Pikitup services are again suspended because of non-payment, leaving contractors unable to operate. “Pikitup is unable to pay contractors, so landfill sites are closed. The diesel cards have been blocked, and they can’t fill up with diesel,” says Meyers.
He adds that the situation has resulted in refuse trucks standing idle, further limiting the number of vehicles available to collect waste.
According to Meyers, some trucks worked over the weekend to deal with the backlog from last week.
However, the city-owned Robinson Deep, Goudkoppies, Marie-Louise and Ennerdale landfill sites were reportedly closed at the time of the update.
Meyers stresses that the disruption is not limited to one ward or to Johannesburg South, but affects Pikitup services across the city.
“Pikitup services seem to be disrupted all across the city right now. So it’s not just particularly to Ward 23, it’s citywide,” he says.
Seeking temporary measures
The disruption has raised concerns among residents about what to do with household waste while refuse collections remain affected.
The councillor says it is difficult to provide a definite timeline for when normal services will resume, as officials are still trying to establish when outstanding payments will be made.
He says the city needs to make funds available to Pikitup so it can address outstanding payments and contractors can resume operations.
“I’m hoping that will resume this week. It’s very difficult to say until we know when the payments are done,” he says.
In the meantime, residents are urged not to resort to illegal dumping. Residents are encouraged to keep their refuse safely stored where possible while councillors and officials work to establish temporary measures and alternative options.
“We are dealing with various department managers,” says Meyers, adding that officials are working to establish how many trucks are available, which areas can be serviced and how the disruption can be managed.
Clarity on available options
Councillor Stuart Marais says councillors are also working to establish what alternative arrangements can be made for residents while the disruption continues.
@southern.courier Councillors are seeking answers as contractors reportedly remain unable to operate and residents face growing refuse backlogs. Full story on southerncourier.co.za
When asked whether an alternative option has been provided for residents to dispose of their rubbish, Marais says they are pushing for clarity on the available options and how the backlog will be addressed.
Meyers adds that some residents may have to be referred to private landfill sites while the disruption continues.
The ongoing disruption has also raised concerns about the backlog that could build up if normal collections do not resume soon. Councillors are continuing to seek information on available trucks, alternative disposal options and how the backlog will be cleared.
The Southern Courier, incorporating the Comaro Chronicle, has reached out to Pikitup for official comment on the reported non-payment issues, the closure of landfill sites and the disruption to refuse collection.
The City of Joburg has also been approached for comment and clarity on the situation and measures being taken to restore services.
Residents are urged to remain patient and avoid illegal dumping while efforts continue to address the disruption and support affected communities.
An update will follow as more information becomes available.
