For the past two weeks, part-time workers at Pikitup have been on strike, and on Monday, demonstrations spread to Braamfontein.
Pikitup up protests: Braamfontein littered with waste
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Johannesburg’s centre city district was littered with heaps of uncollected trash, leaving a heavy stench on a warm and humid afternoon.
This escalation resumed after part-time waste pickers marched toward Bree Taxi Rank, on Friday, 24 May 2024.
Along their route, they deliberately spilt waste onto the streets, creating a significant mess.
The protesters, some carrying wooden sticks and knobkerries, chanted slogans such as “Vostek, fokof, usijwayela amas*mba” to express their anger and frustration.
The situation worsened on Saturday when videos circulating on social media showed the workers emptying a compactor truck and spreading uncollected waste in Hillbrow and Berea.
In response to the growing crisis, Pikitup stated on their social media pages that refuse collection services by permanent staff had resumed at most depots.
Law enforcement officers were deployed to monitor these operations and ensure the safety and security of the workers and infrastructure.
Despite these efforts, the impact of the protests remains evident.
Streets in affected areas are still littered with garbage, causing health concerns and significant inconvenience to residents and businesses. The City of Johannesburg is under pressure to resolve the situation and restore normalcy.
Last Wednesday, City Manager Floyd Brink outlined a recovery plan to address the accumulation of uncollected waste.
This plan includes deploying additional resources to clear the backlog and ensuring that refuse collection services are fully restored across all affected areas.
Brink also mentioned that Pikitup had obtained a court interdict against the protesting workers.
“While the rights of our employees to protest are protected, these rights must be exercised within the confines of the law and without destroying municipal assets and infrastructure,” he said.
The company is engaging with senior management to find long-term solutions to the employment issues raised by the part-time workers.