Jozi residents come together to clean up streets as trash mounts because of strike
Residents of Alexandra and other Johannesburg areas affected by the Pikitup strike are helping contractors clear mounting piles of waste from the streets
The illegal strike, by refuse collectors affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), has been going on for two weeks now and contractors were attacked over the weekend.
But residents decided that it’s best to take matters into their own hands and came together to help contractors clear up on Monday.
Mayoral committee member for environment and infrastructure services Tshidi Mfikoe told News24 that she had been in Alexandra and watched as residents banded together.
“They have answered our call for help and we provided them with bags, gloves, and face masks and they have started clearing the rubbish,” she said.
“We have had a number of attacks on our third party contractors and fortunately no one has been injured. We had intimidation last night in Turffontein and it has only been in Alexandra where we have seen injuries,” she said.
Two men have been arrested and charged with attempted murder in relation to the attacks on contractors. The union has been asked to resume talks with the city.
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