JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned that waste is piling up on the city's roads and residential areas.
MP Matsubane Sek, the party’s spokesperson in Pikitupu, said on Tuesday, July 7, 2026: “Last week, the city experienced a new strike involving temporary workers who continue to demand permanent employment.
“This latest industrial action has once again disrupted garbage collection across Johannesburg, leaving residents to bear the consequences of a regime that continues to teeter from one crisis to the next.”
Mr Sek added that the City of Joburg was not paying contractors on time, which “reduced the number of garbage trucks and further increased backlogs in waste collection”.
Sek said Pikitupu was already battling severe operational pressures.
Landfill closures have increased the distance trash vehicles have to travel, reducing the number of collection trips they can complete in a day and increasing service balances.
“This situation is particularly repetitive and destructive,” DA spokesperson Sekou said on PikiUp.
Mr Sekhu said that instead of introducing permanent solutions, the City of Joburg was simply allowing the problem to fester until chaos erupted.
The DA requested the Mayor Dada Morello and the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services to:
Be honest about why your contractor isn't being paid on time. We present a clear and transparent plan to address Pikitup's operational challenges, including landfill capacity constraints and financial management. Publicly report on the long-term measures in place to prevent Johannesburg residents from being exposed to a recurring waste collection crisis.
