Regional directors lead big city cleanup drive
05 April 2016
Five City of Johannesburg regional directors rolled up their sleeves and joined hands with scores of City employees to clean swathes of the inner city in Region F as the protracted Pikitup strike entered its sixth week on Monday April 4.
The regional directors who got their hands dirty to ensure the city was clean in the wake of the ongoing work stoppage by 4 500 members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) were Irene Mafune (Region F), Mickey Padaichee (G), Pat Lephunya (D), Abigail Ndlovu (A) and Robert Siwedi (B).
Also taking part in the cleanup drive were Ward 123 Councillor Mzwanele Tyobeka; Vicky Shuping, Group Head of Citizen Relationship and Urban Management; Edward Mogale, Deputy Director of Service Delivery in the Inner City; and Chief Superintendent Lawrence Nonjakazi of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department. They were joined by other City officials, volunteers and local residents.
The campaign started at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Joubert Park, one of the busiest parts of the city, at 8.30am and went on until 1pm, covering several areas – from King George Street, through the MTN Taxi Rank and Park Station precinct, to the Johannesburg High Court precinct. Kitted out in work suits and reflective bibs with the words “Service Delivery” emblazoned on them, and armed with latex gloves, masks, sun hats and brooms, they attacked piles of waste that had accumulated across the city as a result of the strike. They swept pavements strewn with remnants of wool, hair extensions, rotten food and pieces of paper.
Occasionally, curious shop owners and shoppers stopped to commend them for “doing a great job”.
The crews also handed refuse bags to street vendors and urged them to keep their work stations clean. Ward 59 Councillor Franscinah Mashao joined the crews near the MTN Taxi Rank.
“The cleanup drive went very well,” Mashao said. “I’m so happy to see the seven regions represented here. Although this is a very small ward, made up of only four streets – Twist, Wolmarans, Wanderers and Lilian Ngoyi (formerly Bree Street) – it is overpopulated because it is Joburg’s busiest transport hub. Since the strike started members of the community have come out to help keep the city clean.
“They are keen to continue as long as their security is assured,” she said. “My wish is to see this happening at least twice a week until the strike is resolved. We’re feeling the absence of Pikitup. But what we also need is the enforcement of by-laws. There is a lot of lawlessness, especially among street vendors. They don’t take responsibility for their actions.”
Region F Director Mafune, whose office organised the cleanup, was also happy with the turnout.
“Urban inspectors, office managers, staffers from [Finance] MMC [Geoffrey] Makhubo’s office were all here. People feel positive about making a difference. Our gratitude goes to the volunteers,” she said.
One of the volunteers, Procedice Zwane, said: “We wanted to help. The CBD has been dirty since the strike started. The garbage is rotting and it poses a health hazard.”