Pikitup paying about R85m a month to hire vehicles as fleet lies idle

Pikitup is spending around R85 million each month on hired vehicles while its own fleet sits largely unavailable, with dozens of city trucks assessed for disposal or awaiting repair, the waste-management entity said.

Who, what and how much

Pikitup said it spends about R85 million a month on fleet hire for administrative and waste-collection services. The entity reported that 52 vehicles have been assessed as uneconomical to repair and are recommended for disposal, and 39 vehicles are in workshops awaiting repairs. The estimated repair cost for major repairs already identified is approximately R5.1 million.

Service disruptions and depot impact

A wave of work stoppages left only three of the city’s 12 depots fully operational. Five depots were described as severely affected: Marlboro, Randburg, Midrand, Waterval and Roodepoort. The disruptions meant at least 130 routes were not covered, leaving an average of 195 suburbs with delayed refuse collection.

What Pikitup says it did

In a written response to questions from the DA, Pikitup said management monitored the situations, engaged stakeholders and applied contingency measures to maintain service continuity and safety. The statement said a court interdict was obtained and support secured from the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and SA Police Service public order policing.

“Management responded proactively by engaging with the ad hoc service providers and their casual workers at the onset of the protests. A court interdict was obtained and support was secured from the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and SA Police Service public order policing to maintain a safe operating environment. JMPD accompanying vehicles in Westbury and Coronationville “Security escorts were arranged for operational vehicles where necessary, while comprehensive backlog recovery plans were implemented to minimise service disruptions and restore normal service delivery.”

The entity said JMPD officers are still accompanying Pikitup vehicles in Westbury and Coronationville. In Alexandra, street cleaners have been taking rubbish to the main street after staff received threats along secondary routes.

Labour dispute and staffing

Pikitup clarified that its own employees were not on strike. The disruption involved a third-party labour dispute with casual workers hired through service providers who are seeking permanent employment or absorption into Pikitup. Management said it is addressing the matter while considering budgetary, contractual and organisational requirements.

The entity reported a 56% vacancy rate. After the protests ended on 7 August, Pikitup said a structured recovery plan was implemented immediately and normal services resumed on 11 August. The organisation added that clarity about casual-worker employment is expected to stabilise operations and that no significant environmental impact was measured from the delay in collections.

Political and council reactions

Ward 99 councillor Hendrik Bodenstein, whose area is served by the Waterval and Randburg depots, said residents had to pay private contractors to clear refuse and criticised the response. He said:

“Why did it take nine months? Rubbish was literally piling up in the streets. “Rats bred. Nappies piled up. Flies and maggots everywhere. Their response is a joke.”

Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp questioned the continued reliance on leasing instead of rebuilding an in-house fleet. He said:

“There is a heavy reliance on contractors, instead of Pikitup getting their own fleet in working order. “The availability of operational vehicles is essential for basic municipal services but when there is chaos, that’s when corruption thrives,”

Finances and outstanding debts

During the 2025-26 financial year, Pikitup reported spending R23.4 million on repair and maintenance of city-owned vehicles. The entity also said it has about R1.5 billion in debt to 93 service providers, including accounts outstanding for up to a year; management said service providers have raised cash-flow concerns that are being actively managed to avoid contract terminations.

What remains clear

Pikitup’s current position, as described in its responses, is one of heavy reliance on hired vehicles while a significant portion of its own fleet is uneconomical to repair or awaiting maintenance. Management says recovery plans and security measures were used to restore service and that further recruitment and funding decisions will follow available approvals.