The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) Cllr Jack Sekwaila led the war on waste campaign in the Johannesburg inner-city on Wednesday, 8 March. The campaign focused on illegal dumping sites, the collection of excess waste, sweeping the streets and sidewalks, and educating residents and businesses about the City’s bylaws.
Councillor Sekwaila was accompanied by Pikitup Managing Director (MD) Bukelwa Njingolo, the MMC for Development Planning Cllr Eunice Mgcina, Ward 59 Councillor Ian Nonkumbi, and various inner-city stakeholders.
"We are resolute in our fight against grime in the inner-city and appeal to residents to work with the City as we embark on this mammoth task. We will clean, but residents must equally assist us and play their part," said Cllr Sekwaila.
The MMC stated that the war on waste campaign will expand to other areas of Johannesburg.
"We will work hard to inculcate a culture of respecting the environment and keeping it clean.
We are indebted to the stakeholders and the non-governmental institutions that have joined us today and are on the ground assisting our teams," Cllr Sekwaila said.
Addressing the crowd, Njingolo said: "We are here to mobilise those staying in the inner-city to ensure they work with Pikitup in cleaning their own environment.
The inner-city is not liveable anymore and has been listed as the dirtiest city in the southern hemisphere, which is very embarrassing".
Njingolo said bins in the inner-city fill up every hour due to population density, and Pikitup conducts waste removal on a continuous basis.
"We have a 24-hour waste collection schedule in the inner-city, made up of three shifts," she said.
Councillor Nonkumbi called on the JMPD to enforce waste management bylaws relentlessly and ensure people and businesses dumping illegally face the wrath of the law, as many businesses avoid paying for a waste collection service, hence they end up dumping their waste on the streets.
One of the inner-city stakeholders, Thulile Gambushe from Ward 62, said it must be a norm to clean Johannesburg and not a once-off campaign.
"We need to respect our area and fellow residents and assist Pikitup in its hard work to clean our area," Gambushe added.
Today’s war on waste in the Johannesburg inner-city was the first leg of the campaign against grime.
The second leg will deal with illegal connections, fixing water leaks, enforcing adherence to the City’s by-laws, as well as door-to-door civic education on the importance of clean and healthy environments.
Written by Dudu Lushaba
08/03/2023
