Hearings against Pikitup workers wrap up

The disciplinary hearings against almost 4 000 Pikitup workers have been concluded and the utility is awaiting the report.

Johannesburg - The disciplinary hearings against almost 4 000 Pikitup workers were concluded on Tuesday and the utility is now awaiting the report.

The union members were broken up into groups and one person was elected to represent these groups.

“We are following due process and will only be able to decide what further steps will be taken once we have received the report,” said Jacky Mashapu, spokesman for Pikitup.

Meanwhile, private security companies have come to the assistance of Pikitup. ADT, CSS and Chubb have pledged to provide security support services for the refuse collection crews, as and when their patrol vehicles are available, in their areas of operations.

The role of these security companies would complement the efforts of the utility’s refuse collection crews and security teams to clear illegal dumping and refuse collection in a safe environment.

The City of Joburg will be holding an urgent council meeting this afternoon to debate the unprotected Pikitup strike.

The Joburg DA called for the meeting and it was approved by the speaker, Constance Bontle Bapela.

The DA is expected to call on city mayor Parks Tau to end the strike immediately by breaking the deadlock between the utility and the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).

“Our city cannot be held ransom by union pressure any longer. Our poorest communities are suffering horrendous health risks as rubbish mounts on streets and corners, with no access to alternative collection.

“Across all areas of Joburg, our communities cannot continue to suffer the effects of Pikitup, including thuggery and violence of strikers, until Mayor Tau decides to act,” said councillor Vasco da Gama.

The party will be calling on the mayor to explain the city’s contingency plans in detail, how it is dealing with areas such as Alexandra where daily cleaning is needed, and to explain what steps are being taken in regard to health issues.

“We need to know whether there are plans in place with doctors, hospitals and clinics should there be an outbreak of the plague,” he said.

After initially boycotting the disciplinary hearings, the workers returned this week and a report will follow shortly on the action to be taken.

anna.cox@inl.co.za

The Star