CHAOS erupted on the streets of Joburg again yesterday as Pikitup workers continued their protest.
The strikers started near Bree Taxi Rank before making their way to Carlton Centre, leaving rubbish everywhere.
Pikitup wheelie bins were burned and large steel bins overturned and left in the street. Strikers also disrupted traffic.
Worker Simon Ngwenya said they were protesting against Pikitup’s decision to hire private companies to clean the streets while they were on strike.
“We’re going to show them how much they need us. If they get someone else to clean up we’ll come back and fill the streets with rubbish,” he said.
At one point, protesters started throwing beer bottles at onlookers taking photos from the balconies of their flats. Residents responded by throwing plastic bags filled with rubbish at them.
Shopkeeper Themba Msimanga (54) said although he had sympathy for the workers, he felt they were taking out their anger on the wrong people.
“The mess outside is scaring customers away and affecting a lot of businesses. You can’t fight your way out of poverty by making other people poor,” he said.
CBD resident Tshidiso Ntsie (21) said the protesters’ actions would turn the public against them. “Pikitup managers still get their salaries but we are the ones who have to live with streets full of rubbish,” he said.
The Samwu-backed protest began last Monday with workers demanding better pay, better working conditions and the resignation of managing director Amanda Nair.
The company warned workers that if they didn’t return to work, they would be fired and obtained a court order preventing Samwu members from striking. The company said it would only negotiate with Samwu if members were instructed to return to work.
