JOHANNESBURG - Alexandra residents say they are being forced to live in increasingly unsanitary conditions as the Pikitup waste collection crisis continues.
The township has effectively become a dumping ground, with rubbish piling up on streets and pavements.
Although Pikitup deployed waste collection trucks over the weekend, residents say little progress has been made in clearing the backlog.
The refuse collection delays stem from ongoing protests at Pikitup’s Marlboro depot in Sandton.
Local businesses say the crisis is taking a heavy toll.
One business owner says they regularly clean the area around their premises, but others continue to dump waste.
Residents say the mounting rubbish is affecting the entire community. They say children are playing among the waste, while illegal dumping continues to worsen the situation.
They also believe the number of waste collection trucks is insufficient to deal with the growing backlog.
One resident, Stephanie, says the stench has become unbearable.
“When you open the window, it stinks. Maggots and rodents are coming into my yard.”
Residents are demanding that the rubbish be removed as a matter of urgency, warning that the prolonged waste crisis poses a serious health risk.