Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised the alarm about waste piling up in the streets and residential areas of the city.
DA Councillor Matsobane Sekhu, the party’s spokesperson on Pikitup, said on Tuesday, 7 July 2026: “The City experienced yet another strike last week involving casual workers, who continue to demand permanent employment.
“This latest industrial action has once again disrupted refuse collection across Johannesburg, leaving residents to bear the consequences of an administration that continues to lurch from one crisis to another.”
Sekhu added that the City of Joburg was failing to pay contractors on time, which the councillor said “results in reduced refuse trucks and even more waste collection backlogs”.
Sekhu said Pikitup was already battling severe operational pressures.
The closure of landfill sites has increased travelling distances for refuse collection vehicles, reducing the number of collection trips that can be completed each day and contributing to growing service backlogs.
“This situation is particularly repetitive and disruptive,” said Sekhu, the DA spokesperson on Pikitup.
Sekhu said instead of implementing lasting solutions, the City of Joburg simply allows problems to fester until disruptions erupt.
The DA called on the Executive Mayor Dada Morero and the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services to:
- Provide a truthful explanation of why contractors are not paid on time.
- Present a clear and transparent plan to address Pikitup’s operational challenges, including landfill capacity constraints and financial management.
- Report publicly on the long-term measures being implemented to prevent Johannesburg residents from being subjected to recurring waste collection crises.
