After serious allegations that prompted workers to go on an illegal strike‚ leaving an unhealthy stench in many parts of Johannesburg‚ the Pikitup board has put its managing director MD Amanda Nair on special leave.

In November last year and April this year‚ Pikitup experienced 36 days of illegal strike action by the SA Municipal Workers Union who demanded that Nair be suspended as she was corrupt.

 The strike was marked by violence and intimidation‚ and left the city with an unpleasant smell as refuse piled up in the city centre and surroundings.

This forced mayor Parks Tau and member of the mayoral committee for environment and infrastructure services Matshidiso Mfikoe to intervene and the matter was taken to the CCMA‚ which brought the end to an strike.

The city then appointed independent auditors to investigate the allegations to avoid any perceptions of bias and interference.

 “The board has accordingly informed the MD‚ Ms Nair‚ that she is required to attend an inquiry in terms of section 188A of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 to deal with the evidence concerning the allegations and to give her an opportunity to respond thereto. The special leave of the MD will remain in force‚” said Pikitup spokesperson Jacky Mashapu.

“We are pleased to announce that Mr Lungile Dhlamini‚ the MD of Joburg Water‚ has been appointed as acting MD of Pikitup until further notice.”

Mashapu said Dhlamini had an excellent track record at Joburg Water and “will bring his expertise and experience to bear in working with the board‚ management and staff at Pikitup to address the weaknesses that have been identified”. – TMG Digital