JOHANNESBURG - Residents in several Johannesburg suburbs say they have been left living with overflowing bins, foul odours and mounting health concerns as refuse collection delays continue to plague the city.
In areas such as Windsor, rubbish has reportedly gone uncollected for as long as three weeks, leaving waste spilling onto streets and attracting vermin.
Residents say they are increasingly worried about the impact on their communities, particularly children who play near the overflowing bins.
One resident said the smell has become unbearable and fears the conditions pose a health risk.
Frustration has also reached boiling point in Randburg, where residents have launched a petition calling for urgent intervention. The petition has already attracted around 1,500 signatures.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs says residents have endured irregular refuse collection for nearly two years and want answers from the City.
She says ongoing fleet shortages, labour disruptions and pressure on landfill sites have contributed to deteriorating service delivery, warning that the problem is spreading beyond isolated suburbs.
The refuse collection backlog also highlights deeper financial and operational challenges facing Pikitup.
The utility reportedly owes suppliers R1.33 billion and is grappling with a severely depleted fleet, with more than half of its 223 specialised refuse trucks either out of service or scrapped.
Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe has apologised to residents for the disruptions.
He says the backlog has largely been caused by disruptions involving employees contracted to service providers, who have allegedly intimidated workers and interrupted refuse collection.
He also attributes some delays to the late payment of drivers, saying this has affected operations.
Selepe said Pikitup has addressed cash flow challenges and is working to restore normal service.
The utility has promised to clear the current backlog by the weekend.
Watch video for full report by Nabeelah Shaikh