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​Pikitup is unable to fulfill its waste collection responsibilities in the Alexandra and Sandton Depots (Region E), due to continued intimidation, protest action and acts of violence against its employees and service providers by former Jozi@Work employees. 

Following the expiry of their temporary contracts, Jozi@Work employees went on the rampage during the course of the past week, threating and assaulting service providers and Pikitup workers. 

The violent disruptions started last Monday (30 January) in Alexandra and spread to Wynberg, Sandton, Orange Grove and Houghton on Friday (2 February), when vehicles were prevented from leaving the Marlboro Depot by protestors. There have also been reports of cleaning materials being violently taken from Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees, staff being held hostage and vehicles being turned over. 

Pikitup provides a six-days-a-week waste collection service and collects over 200 tons of waste per day in Alexandra alone. However, the violent protests have now lead to Pikitup being unable to fulfill their mandate in Region E, and services in Region, C, F and G are now also affected. 

Pikitup phased out the Jozi@Work programme at the end of December 2017, when most of the temporary contracts came to an end.

Pikitup is planning to roll out a new community upliftment programme, and for the interim has introduced EPWP to replace the former J@W programme. 

The EPWP programmes are aimed at poverty alleviation and projects will also be tied to varying timelines.

A trend has developed where beneficiaries of these programmes refuse to vacate positions upon the expiry of their respective contracts. The refusal entails threats of violence and intimidation against the new entrants as well as prevention of waste collection. 

Over the past year, there has been extreme cases where the City has been trashed to support this demand for a considerable period of time.

The allegations made by the former Jozi@Work employees that they have not been paid for two months are not a true reflection accounts. The actual reason for their protest is about absorption and permanent employment.

I condemn the violent disruptions by a disgruntled few who knew full well that they signed temporary employment contracts, which are legally binding. 

We operate within a City where rule of law and respect for human rights are paramount and we will tolerate no less.

Pikitup is requesting that residents assists us during this time by bagging dumped waste and placing the full bags in identified areas in their wards where collection will be arranged. 

Meetings between relevant stakeholders are continuously being held, which aims to find a solution to the impending situation. 

Pikitup have also opened cases of vandalism and intimidation against some individuals and arrests will be made as ringleaders have been identified.

Media enquiries:
Cllr Nico de Jager  
MMC: Environment and Infrastructure Services Department  
083 899 2127  
NicoDe@joburg.org.za