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Pikitup resumes cleaning after SAPS arrests Jozi@Work protestors 
 
7 February 2018

Release: Immediate
 
The South African Police Service (SAPS) have arrested 20 former Jozi@Work contract workers who have been illegally protesting and hindering Pikitup’s service delivery through vandalism and intimidation of workers.
 
This was revealed during a meeting I held yesterday with the MMC for Public Safety Cllr Michael Sun, Chief of JMPD, David Tembe, COO of Pikitup, Christa Venter, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), managers of City entities as well as representatives from Region E (Alex and surrounds) to discuss how Pikitup can resume its services.
 
I also wish to state up front that any individual found guilty of actively participating in these disruptions, will not be eligible to apply for similar positions of a rotational nature within the City.
 
The Waste Group has also successfully applied for an interdict against the protestors to protect their infrastructure and staff.
 
Pikitup and its workers, contracted through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), have not been able to collect waste in Alexandra since Monday 29 February 2018, due to violent protest action by previous Jozi@Work workers whose temporary contracts expired in December 2017.
 
The Jozi@Work programme was viewed by many as a tool used to ensure political patronage, where ward councillors sat on panels and allocated job opportunities. This in itself is a flawed process, as councillors should not be allowed to interfere in the employment of workers in the City.
 
During the meeting, JMPD officers and SAPS were instructed to enforce the law and arrest anyone found guilty of vandalising City property or intimidating workers. Our law enforcement agencies cannot and will not become complicit bystanders while the destructive behaviour of a few cause chaos.
 
Pikitup will resume with service delivery with the assistance of JMPD and SAPS.
 
We will not be held ransom by lies and hooliganism of a few at the expense of thousands.
 
Media enquiries:
Cllr Nico de Jager  
MMC: Environment and Infrastructure Services Department  
083 899 2127  
NicoDe@joburg.org.za