Johannesburg has been plunged into a service delivery crisis as waste remains uncollected for days due to municipal workers protesting over unfulfilled wage agreements. The city's waste collection entity, Pikitup, faces a massive backlog with fewer workers available, resulting in rubbish piling up in northern, western, and southern areas. Pikitup has pleaded for patience but could not say when all the rubbish would be collected.
The strike has also impacted other entities, including Joburg Water, as some of its workers are members of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu). The union members have been carrying out protests in the Johannesburg CBD since Monday. The protests stem from an unfulfilled wage and benefits agreement known as the Politically Facilitated Agreement (PFA), which Samwu entered into with the city in 2016.
Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe put the blame on Samwu for disrupting services and could not confirm when services would return to normal. Selepe said it would be hard to predict when services would be back in full swing. "The problem is not with Pikitup but the city. Once it [the strike] gets resolved, the better for us, but if it prolongs it means we must make do and deal with the service problem," he said.
A Sowetan team visited several areas, including Emmarentia, Florida, Roodepoort, Roosevelt Park, Randburg, Olivedale, and Fourways, and witnessed piles of garbage in unemptied bins stacked outside residences and shopping centers. Most of the waste was meant to be collected between Monday and Wednesday and had developed a stench and was attracting flies. Residents expressed frustration and disappointment with the situation.
Some residents reported not being notified about the service interruption, while others were informed on Monday. In Roodepoort, residents were notified of the disruption on Monday, citing operational challenges, including fleet breakdowns and increased distance to transport waste to the outlying landfill site. Lee Young of the Parktown North Residents Association said some waste was collected, but a large part of the area was still unserviced.
Johannesburg Water, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed the Samwu protest was affecting operations and causing delays in service delivery. The entity apologized for any inconvenience caused and appreciated customers' patience and understanding as they worked to minimize disruptions. However, Samwu's deputy regional secretary, Richard Moila, said the protest was only on Monday and that their members resumed duties on Tuesday.
The situation remains a challenge for residents, with some areas experiencing a lack of water due to challenges at Joburg Water. The city's entities are working to resolve the issue, but it is unclear when services will return to normal. Residents are urged to be patient and understanding as the city works to address the service delivery crisis.
Key points
- Samwu's protest over unfulfilled wage agreements has caused a service delivery crisis in Johannesburg.
- Pikitup faces a massive backlog with fewer workers available, resulting in uncollected waste.
- The strike has impacted other entities, including Joburg Water, and has caused delays in service delivery.
