On Tuesday, 10 March, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City of Johannesburg, Jack Sekwaila, dismissed circulating claims that waste collection workers from Pikitup Johannesburg SOC Ltd are on strike.
In a statement, Sekwaila said: “We want to clarify that Pikitup employees are not on strike. We are concerned about the false allegations circulating on various social media platforms, especially TikTok, claiming that Pikitup employees are on strike.”
According to the MMC, a video posted on TikTok by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille, claimed that Pikitup employees had downed tools. Sekwaila described the statement as misleading and urged residents not to rely on unverified information circulating online.
He added that the spread of misinformation by political figures is troubling: “These actions show a worrying trend where political leaders spread false information, causing unnecessary panic among residents. It is immature to use lies as a tool for political campaigning.”
He futher describeed the claims as as both irresponsible and misleading. “It is distasteful and irresponsible for high-profile political leaders to spread falsehoods for political gain at the expense of residents. Misleading the public in this way undermines their right to accurate and credible information,” Sekwaila said.
Sekwaila urged the public to seek confirmation from official sources if they have concerns about refuse collection services. Residents can contact Pikitup’s call centre or reach out to their nearest depot for updates. “Residents are also encouraged to verify any concerns by calling Pikitup’s call center at 010 055 5990 or reaching out to their local depots, the contact numbers for which can be found on the official website,” he concluded.
