Pikitup hails security support for temporary crews

Private security companies ADT, CSS and Chubb will provide to support to clean-up teams working in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg - Pikitup, the waste management company of the City of Johannesburg, on Tuesday evening announced that ADT, CSS and Chubb had pledged to provide security support services for its refuse-collection crews following attacks on some of its private contractors and temporary workers.

This comes as the strike at Pikitup by workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) continued to intensify amid increasing violence as it entered its fourth week on Monday.

On Monday, a Pikitup truck on its refuse-collection route was attacked and stoned outside Samwu House in Johannesburg CBD in broad daylight.

Pikitup spokesperson Jacky Mashapu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the private security companies ADT, CSS and Chubb would provide security support services for its refuse collection crews as and when their patrol vehicles were available, in their areas of operations.

Mashapu said Pikitup was grateful for the support of the security sector, particularly the Neighbourhood Watch sector, in assisting it to deliver a waste management service to restore the pride and dignity of the City of Johannesburg.

“Their patronage is in response to a call for volunteers in the security sector to assist Pikitup to facilitate the delivery of waste management and refuse collection in the City. The role of these security companies will complement the efforts of Pikitup’s refuse collection crews and security teams to clear illegal dumping and refuse collection in a safe environment,” Mashapu said.

Meanwhile, a debate to end the Pikitup strike has been scheduled for Wednesday in the Gauteng legislature.

Democratic Alliance Johannesburg caucus leader Vasco da Gama called for the debate, saying the real test would be on whether the African National Congress (ANC) in the council would support a DA motion in the debate mandating Mayor Parks Tau to end the strike immediately.

“It is high time we break the Pikitup deadlock. Our city cannot be held ransom by union pressure any longer,” Da Gama said on Tuesday.

About 4 000 Pikitup workers affiliated to Samwu went on an unprotected strike from March 9, demanding wage hikes from R6 000 to R10 000 a month, and that managing director Amanda Nair, step down.

This was the fourth strike by Pikitup workers since November 2015, over the same reasons, though Nair was cleared by the courts on charges of corruption.

Last month, two Pikitup trucks were shot at along Rand Show Road, near Nasrec, at night which caused the vehicles to collide, though no one was injured.

Three days later, seven temporary workers were injured when an unknown group attacked them during a cleanup drive on a Saturday night in Alexandra.

Since the strike began, Pikitup has been paying R1 million a day to hire private contractors to pick up refuse and for security escorts to prevent attacks.

Johannesburg Metro Police Services were also asked to provide security to temporary workers and private contractors.

ANA