Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau on Tuesday said the “anarchy” caused by the on-going illegal strike by Pikitup workers can no longer be tolerated.
But‚ he also cautioned residents of the city – frustrated by weeks of uncollected garbage — not to take the law into their own hands.
His comments were made at a media briefing on the same day disciplinary hearings started against workers who have “ignored two court interdicts and ultimatums” to return to work.
Tau said it was unfortunate that disciplinary action had to be taken‚ especially as it was committed to negotiations between the city and union officials‚ but stressed that the vandalism and intimidation of recent weeks cannot be allowed to continue.
Law enforcement agencies would be escorting stand-in trash collectors‚ the mayor said‚ adding that strikers arrested over the weekend would face charges including malicious damage to property‚ assault and attempted murder.
He said that contingency plans which had been put in place ahead of the Easter weekend would continue this week.
These include a 24-hour hotline for residents to call about uncollected waste in their area.
Pikitup said on Monday that its three days of disciplinary hearings will also see hear “charges levelled at those who have provoked the illegal strike and individuals who have been responsible for intimidation”.
A Pikitup statement said it “welcomes the city’s call to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to resume engagement with Pikitup to ensure that the terms set out in the politically facilitated agreement are carried out”.
It added that member of the mayoral committee Matshidiso Mfikoe had “reiterated that the city is also committed to ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and compensated accordingly”‚ but added that “this can only happen in a normal environment wherein workers are back at work so as to afford the mandated parties the opportunity to reach an amicable agreement”.
Pikitup said it would “welcome employees should they want to return to work on Tuesday”.
It noted that “management and contingency teams have been hard at work clearing backlogs around the city”.
“The affected areas are being reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure cleanliness is restored to optimum levels‚” the statement said.
“Community members are increasingly heeding the call and over the Easter season‚ various community-led clean-up initiatives have been taken place throughout the city’s regions.”
The hashtag #pikitup was trending in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning‚ with Charles ngcobo ?@Nactizel666’s comment suggesting that he was in an area that hadn’t yet been attended to: “Jst saw a big ass rat...having a holiday in a trashcan‚ thank u #pikitup”.
Pikitup strike ‘anarchy’ can’t be tolerated‚ says Joburg mayor
Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau on Tuesday said the “anarchy” caused by the on-going illegal strike by Pikitup workers can no longer be tolerated.
But‚ he also cautioned residents of the city – frustrated by weeks of uncollected garbage — not to take the law into their own hands.
His comments were made at a media briefing on the same day disciplinary hearings started against workers who have “ignored two court interdicts and ultimatums” to return to work.
Tau said it was unfortunate that disciplinary action had to be taken‚ especially as it was committed to negotiations between the city and union officials‚ but stressed that the vandalism and intimidation of recent weeks cannot be allowed to continue.
Law enforcement agencies would be escorting stand-in trash collectors‚ the mayor said‚ adding that strikers arrested over the weekend would face charges including malicious damage to property‚ assault and attempted murder.
He said that contingency plans which had been put in place ahead of the Easter weekend would continue this week.
These include a 24-hour hotline for residents to call about uncollected waste in their area.
Pikitup said on Monday that its three days of disciplinary hearings will also see hear “charges levelled at those who have provoked the illegal strike and individuals who have been responsible for intimidation”.
A Pikitup statement said it “welcomes the city’s call to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to resume engagement with Pikitup to ensure that the terms set out in the politically facilitated agreement are carried out”.
It added that member of the mayoral committee Matshidiso Mfikoe had “reiterated that the city is also committed to ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and compensated accordingly”‚ but added that “this can only happen in a normal environment wherein workers are back at work so as to afford the mandated parties the opportunity to reach an amicable agreement”.
Pikitup said it would “welcome employees should they want to return to work on Tuesday”.
It noted that “management and contingency teams have been hard at work clearing backlogs around the city”.
“The affected areas are being reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure cleanliness is restored to optimum levels‚” the statement said.
“Community members are increasingly heeding the call and over the Easter season‚ various community-led clean-up initiatives have been taken place throughout the city’s regions.”
The hashtag #pikitup was trending in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning‚ with Charles ngcobo ?@Nactizel666’s comment suggesting that he was in an area that hadn’t yet been attended to: “Jst saw a big ass rat...having a holiday in a trashcan‚ thank u #pikitup”.
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