RATEPAYERS FURIOUS OVER FAILURE TO REMOVE WASTE IN JOHANNESBURG OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS

By Subry Govender (LACK OF SERVICE DELIVERY) The ratepayers and taxpayers of Johannesburg are fed up and reeling with anger. Their source of disquiet is the gross failure of the municipality to remove house-hold waste, rubbish and mess from their streets for more than a fortnight. "We cannot understand why the municipality has not put any measures in place to remove the rubbish and waste while their contractors, Pikitup, are facing a problem," said one angry resident. "We don't have any dealings with Pikitup because we don't pay our rates and taxes to this company. We pay our rates to the municipality and they should be doing something to pick up the waste and to clean up our streets." Pikitup workers have downed tools demanding higher wages and improved working conditions. They have also demanded the removal of their CEO. When one drives or walks through the streets one is greeted by bundles of bin bags and waste all over the place. It's an unseemly sight and only has a negative impact on the residents. (WE WILL REMEMBER THE MUNICIPALITY DURING THE LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS) "We will remember the lack of service in return for the payment of our rates and taxes when we go to the polls during the local government elections later this year," said another resident. While most residents keep the areas in front of their houses clean and tidy, the failure of the municipality to pick up the house-hold waste completely leads to the degeneration of the environment. One private waste remover was seen dumping bin bags in a vacant plot in a suburb in Roodepoort, north of the city. The waste remover did not care where he dumped the bin bags because he knew that municipal officials would not be around. It seems the municipality does not take ratepayers seriously because the ruling elite believe they can continue to rely on their "safe" "vote banks".