Pikitup denies 18-day delay in waste collection – ‘at most it’s been a week’
· The South African
City waste management utility Pikitup has pushed back against claims that refuse collection is running up to 18 days behind schedule in parts of Johannesburg.
The utility says the reports are incorrect and risk causing unnecessary panic among residents in areas such as Randburg, Roodepoort and Waterval.
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MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Jack Sekwaila, said the longest disruption recorded was significantly shorter.
“The maximum backlog recorded in Randburg was approximately one week in January 2026,” Sekwaila said. “Therefore, the claim of an eighteen-day disruption is false and misleading.”
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— Pikitup (@CleanerJoburg) March 29, 2026
Why delays happened in parts of the city
According to the City, earlier disruptions were linked to protests by casual workers demanding employment.
Community protests in Randburg followed shortly afterwards, also centred on job opportunities. Officials say these incidents temporarily affected operations but have since been resolved.
The City of Johannesburg also stressed that the delays were not linked to strike action by employees.
Operational records, including route sheets and daily service logs, show no instance where refuse went uncollected for 18 days, according to the department.
Authorities say residents who believe their homes were affected for longer should report the issue so it can be investigated.
Pikitup confirms short backlogs at some depots
While the utility rejects claims of an 18-day delay, it acknowledged that short backlogs remain at some depots.
Randburg, Roodepoort and Waterval depots are each currently about two days behind schedule.
The City attributes the delays to landfill capacity constraints, operational inefficiencies and longer turnaround times at disposal sites.
Officials say teams are working weekends to clear the backlog and stabilise services.
“We want to assure residents in the aforementioned areas that waste collection will proceed without disruption,” Sekwaila added.
“We encourage residents to report any illegal dumping or unserviced areas to their nearest depot or via the Pikitup website, or by calling Pikitup’s call center on 010 055 5990.”