DA blames ANC as Pikitup protest leaves parts of Johannesburg without refuse collection

By Thapelo Molefe

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the ANC-led City of Johannesburg administration of allowing refuse collection services to collapse, saying repeated labour disputes at Pikitup have left parts of the city “drowning in rubbish” and exposed residents to health risks.

The criticism follows another disruption to refuse collection after Pikitup informed residents on Monday that it was unable to resume services because of ongoing protest action by casual workers contracted to waste collection service providers who are demanding to be absorbed by the entity.

According to Pikitup, the protest has led to the blockading of entrances to its Marlboro, Waterval, Roodepoort, Randburg, Orange Farm and Avalon depots, preventing waste collection vehicles and permanent employees from leaving to carry out scheduled collections.

The entity said its employees were not on strike but were unable to provide services because of the blockades. It added that it was engaging relevant stakeholders, service providers and law enforcement agencies while implementing operational measures to minimise disruptions and restore normal services.

In a statement on Wednesday, DA Joburg Caucus Leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the latest disruption was part of a pattern that had continued for several years without a lasting solution.

“The reality is that these labour disputes have been recurring since 2021. Despite years of disruption, the ANC-led administration has failed to resolve the underlying issues or put effective contingency plans in place to ensure that refuse collection continues,” she said.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the repeated service interruptions had left the city facing growing health and environmental risks while undermining residents’ confidence in local government.

“The result is a City drowning in rubbish, exposing residents to health risks, damaging the environment, and eroding public confidence in local government,” she said.

She said residents who continued paying rates and taxes were being let down by an administration that could not provide basic municipal services.

“While residents continue to pay rates and taxes, they are met with overflowing bins, filthy streets, and endless excuses,” Kayser-Echeozonjoku said.

The DA called on Executive Mayor Dada Morero, the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services and the Pikitup Board to restore refuse collection services immediately, provide a clear plan to resolve the labour dispute permanently, implement contingency measures to prevent future disruptions and publicly explain why the recurring disputes had not been resolved.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku also urged eligible residents to register for the 4 November 2026 local government elections before voter registration closes.

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