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Johannesburg residents have been left with heaps of dirt piling up on the pavements outside their homes amid Pikitup's dirt collection backlog.
The City of Johannesburg’s waste management service provider, Pikitup, insists that services are now back to normal in all areas, except for ones serviced by the Marlboro depot.
However, residents have taken to social media to share their frustration and a very different story.
Some residents experienced collection delays of between four days and some, even up to two weeks.
@CleanerJoburg Its been two weeks since refuse has been collected. Please advise when collection will resume in the Westbury area.
— wayne (@wayne24burger) November 8, 2022
@CleanerJoburg @CityofJoburgZA @EISDcoj ?????????? so has promised your truck did not return to our area on Sunday???? https://t.co/wfln8K4WNu
— Charmaine Radjoo ???? ????? (@squareapple_) November 8, 2022
@CleanerJoburg please note rubbish hasn't been collected for 2 weeks now in Kensington South .
— Da Don (@sifiso__dladla) November 7, 2022
Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi said:
On Friday, following mounting complaints from residents, Pikitup said the delays were due to the appointment of new ad hoc fleet service providers and internal labour relations.
“Pikitup waste collections services are two days behind schedule as a result of the appointment of new ad hoc fleet service providers and internal labour relations issues in some depots. An operational recovery plan has been set in motion and it is expected that all the collections backlog will be addressed by Sunday,” it said in a statement.
Mkhwanazi refused to explain why Pikitup needed to appoint ad hoc fleet service providers.
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Speaking about the labour relations challenges, he explained: “Workers needed clarity on the process which was still under way for the incorporation of Pikitup drivers to drive trucks supplied by service providers, as well as employees employed by the previous service providers wanting to know if they could be employed at Pikitup permanently.”
He added that all labour-related issues had since been resolved.
But some Johannesburg residents are still reeling in the aftermath.
Thanks ????, people were dumping their excess black bags in other people's bin's, was awful. The smell of the contents ??!
— billyblue (@b_billyblue) November 4, 2022
You are not addressing inner city collection. Years ago it was said the innercity would have more shifts. It's now worse dumping than ever. Adapt your collection to hijacked buildings dumping and no wheelie bins. Make a new plan! Old method 2 decades is a failure.
— There is no Planet B (@gabrielleozyns1) November 4, 2022
@CleanerJoburg good day please note no refuse collection has taken place yesterday (scheduled day) at Sceales Road, Lone Hill, Sandton & Santa Monica Crescent, Lone Hill, Sandton. Please send the team to collect
— Shaun van Staden (@Shaun_v_Staden) November 8, 2022
@CleanerJoburg no rubbish collection in Bryanston today. What is the issue?
— Tanya King (@tanyaking36) November 7, 2022
