COUNCILLOR MOLEFE CONFIRMS THE MAYOR AND MMC HAVE INTERVENED — NORMAL COLLECTION EXPECTED FROM NEXT WEEK
Why the Bins have not been collected
For the past week, Soweto residents have been waking up to a familiar but deeply frustrating sight — overflowing bins, uncollected rubbish and growing piles of waste in open spaces across their neighbourhoods. The cause is the Pikitup strike in Soweto and across Johannesburg, where casual workers contracted through Pikitup’s fleet and service providers downed tools demanding permanent employment directly from Pikitup. The strike has disrupted waste collection operations across all of Pikitup’s depots in the city, including the Central Camp depot which serves Soweto.
Councillor Molefe Speaks: “There is Hope and There is a Plan”
Ward 30 Councillor Oshea Molefe of Orlando East has been at the forefront of efforts to keep his community informed and to manage the situation on the ground. Speaking directly to Loxion Express, Councillor Molefe confirmed that the Mayor of Johannesburg and the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services have personally intervened and are overseeing a city-wide recovery plan. “The mayor has confirmed the interventions and plans in place to cover the Pikitup backlog,” said Councillor Molefe. “We have been seeing trucks running around, and I can say on the basis of that, there is progress. The normalisation of the collection of refuse will happen from the coming week, as per the confirmation of the MMC and the office of the mayor.”
“We strongly advise against open-space littering by residents. We know sometimes it can be pressing and residents are forced to do something that is not morally correct — but we appeal to residents to stay calm. The measures are in place and hopefully by Tuesday, going to our normal collection, everything would be sorted.”
— Councillor Oshea Molefe, Ward 30, Orlando East
Councillor Molefe has not been waiting passively for Pikitup to resolve its challenges. His office has been actively engaging a local organisation called Sikhulisa Intsha Yethu, which operates in the area and has been doing commendable work in Ward 30 through litter picking and cleaning of open spaces. Councillor Molefe confirmed that Sikhulisa Intsha Yethu is currently working to source additional fleet to assist Pikitup in tackling the backlog in the ward.
“They have confirmed to us that by Monday, before the normalisation of collection on Wednesday, they will try to round up our area in the ward and see what they can do,” said the councillor. He added that Sikhulisa Intsha Yethu would also be calling on community members to come forward and assist voluntarily in cleaning open spaces as part of a coordinated community clean-up effort.
Councillor’s Plea: Dumping is Not the Answer
Councillor Molefe used his message to Loxion Express to speak plainly and directly to residents about the growing problem of illegal dumping in open spaces. While he acknowledged the frustration that comes with uncollected rubbish, he was emphatic that dumping in streets and open spaces is not a solution — it is a problem that only makes life worse for the very community that is already suffering.
When residents dump in open spaces, they are not punishing Pikitup or the City of Johannesburg. They are polluting their own streets, creating health hazards for their own children, and making the clean-up even harder once services resume. Councillor Molefe also urged residents who do not have heavy loads of rubbish to keep their bins intact and secured, warning that bin theft has increased during this period and that bins are needed urgently once collection fleets arrive.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WHILE WAITING FOR PIKITUP
1. Keep your rubbish bags sealed and inside your bin with the lid closed to reduce smell and pests.
2. Do NOT dump in open spaces, streets, parks or on pavements. You are making your community sick.
3. Guard your bin. Bin theft is increasing and you will need it when collection resumes.
4. Separate recyclables — paper, plastic, glass — and reduce the volume of your refuse where possible.
5. Volunteer to help with the Sequlisa community clean-up in Ward 30 — contact your ward office for details.
Hold On, Soweto — Help is on the Way
The Pikitup strike in Soweto has been difficult, frustrating and at times demoralising for residents who expect basic services to be delivered consistently. But Councillor Molefe’s message is clear and carries the weight of confirmation from the highest levels of the City of Johannesburg: the plan is in place, the trucks are moving, and normal collection is coming.
Ward 30 residents are urged to hold on, keep their streets clean, and look out for the Sikhulisa Intsha Yethu clean-up teams that will be moving through the area. Loxion Express will continue to monitor the situation and update the community as collection services are restored. For any queries or updates, contact the Ward 30 office directly.
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