Pikitup collectors at work

RELATED LINKS: Pikitup PIKITUP is the City's official waste management service provider and as such it is responsible for keeping the city clean and preserving an attractive and hygienic environment for residents and visitors. Read more Cleaning up the city environment SINCE its establishment at the beginning of 2001, Pikitup, the company that manages waste on behalf of the City, has played a pioneering role in efforts to eliminate dirt and pollution. Read more Pikitup buys R1,2m cleaning machine PIKITUP has invested over a million rand in a state-of-the-art street-cleaning machine to help keep Joburg spotless. Read more Sisonke underground bins opened UNDERGROUND bins in downtown Joburg are the first phase of the Sisonke Project, which focuses on building a clean environment. Read more Forum focuses on cleaning Diepsloot NINE environment-minded Diepsloot residents have formed Bontle Ke Thlago to clean up the densely populated township. Read more

No Chrismas boxes, urges Pikitup Pikitup has asked residents not to give the traditional 'Christmas box' to its staff this holiday season. The City's waste management company banned the practice four years ago. November 21, 2007 By Lesego Madumo PIKITUP has once again appealed to Joburg residents not to give Christmas boxes or gifts to its waste collectors during the coming festive season. "This request arises out of the traditional practice by waste collectors in previous years to insist on gifts in the form of money or goods from residents – commonly known as a Christmas box," said Marius de Villiers, Pikitup's manager of communications. Residents were not obliged to give 'Christmas boxes' to refuse collectors. "We would like to emphasise to residents that they are under no obligation whatsoever to give gifts," he said. "We discourage them from doing so." Pikitup employees receive a bonus at the end of the year, he added. "The company decided to take firm steps to discourage this tradition over four years ago." This was due to problems in the past, including the defrauding of residents by impostors claiming to be Pikitup employees. Usually, perpetrators falsify documents and commit fraud in the name of Pikitup. "These people use council letterheads and write that Pikitup gives them permission to ask for donations and Christmas gifts," he said. "This has become a lucrative business for them." If caught perpetrators would be charged with fraud. In a case reported two years back, police found two men to be in possession of counterfeit Pikitup ID cards, and R3 000 in cash, collected from residents under false pretences. The men were arrested and charged with fraud, he said. De Villiers pointed out that Pikitup staff do not carry ID cards and hardly interact with residents. However, De Villiers added, "residents who wish to reward Pikitup refuse collectors in their areas for services rendered should ensure that they are not dealing with criminals, and will be doing so at their own risk". Pikitup urges residents to report any irregularities to the South African Police Service, Pikitup's call centre on 011 712 5200, or Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page Send an online postcard E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za