Residents have been warned that refuse will not be collected and that the garbage is expected to pile up during the strike.
Joburg’s striking Pikitup workers are demanding that a formal investigation into accusations of corruption and nepotism be conducted at Johannesburg’s refuse removal agency. The allegations come at a time when the City of Joburg’s mayor, Amos Masondo is trying to reassure city residents that Joburg really is a world-class city.
According to spokesman, Tahir Sema, of the South African Municipal Workers Union, Pikitup’s workers are also demanding an end to wage disparities because of nepotism and an agreement with management of the company to stop contracting employees.
Sema said that Pikitup’s management had refused to meet with workers or unions and as a result SAMWU had approached the city manager’s office to intervene.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance councillor and the spokesman for Pikitup Marian Kemp says that the “stench around the refuse collection agency” has been going on for some time and says that the DA supports both SAMWU and the striking workers.
She concedes that while the residents of the city might face some inconvenience in the weeks ahead, the move by Pikitup workers might represent a turning point in the fight for transparency, accountability and responsibility in local government and beyond.
“For too long now, the blatantly undemocratic ANC mayoral committee has held exclusive power that has been locked behind the impenetrable doors of the mayoral chamber,” claims Kemp.
She says the mayoral committee, oversees every appointment and major decision made by Pikitup, City Power and Joburg Water.
“The mayoral committee must therefore be held accountable for every illegal tender, mismanaged service level agreement and for every dubious business decision made by it,” says Kemp
According to Kemp the committee tasked with overseeing these entities has been accused of hiding the real truth amid allegations of a plethora of irregular tenders worth millions of rands.
Pikitup spokeswoman, Pansy Oyedele, claims that the company had offered SAMWU a proposal aimed at meeting their demands but the workers had rejected it because they felt it failed to address their “key concerns”.
There are just four landfill sites that have remained open during the strike. These are Goudkoppies in Houthammer Road, Devland; Marie Louise on Dobsonville Road in Roodepoort; Robinson Deep in Turffontein Road and Turffontein and Ennerdale on Old Lawley Road.
Residents have been warned that refuse will not be collected and that the garbage is expected to pile up during the strike. People can take their rubbish to any of the main sites listed or can visit www.pikitup.co.za to see a list of 42 garden sites where refuse can be deposited.
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