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My wife wanted to get out of the house and go watch the South Africa vs Argentina rubgy game. WHAT!!. Hold the phone. Allrighty then. Off we go. Granny is at home with the sick dogs, we'll go close by - to the nearest little pub. Awesome, Great.
The game starts at 21h00 in the evening, so pretty late for a rugger game. Never been to this pub, perfectly fine - a few folks sitting around and the requisite big TV.
Go up to the bar to get a couple of drinks and the locals are in a heated discussion. Oh Sh1t.
Because its a local pub, therefore local folks, what are they talking about. Rubbish. Yes Rubbish. Come on, we have taken a rare night out to escape all this. Its literally on every doorstep in Johannesburg.
When in Rome - right, so we stand there and look interested, we have some time before the game. Now just like in any bar over a heated discussion - ALL the facts come out and its very informed.
PIKITUP is sub-contracted by the city of Johannesburg to collect rubbish from in front of your house and well as, everywhere. Its usually put in the big green square rubbish bins and the truck picks up 2 at time, etc blah blah. Now what PIKITUP do is they hire casual labourers to do the job and they want to be made permanent employees and are now striking or protesting for that.
This is where the problems start, depending on what news article you read.
PIKITUP say they can't make staff permanent because the government or ANC (African Nation Congress - the ruling party in SA) don't pay or definitely don't pay on a regular basis, so its not fair on them (PIKITUP) or their staff. So they have to hire casuals with the pittance that they get from the ANC. They understand a consistent service is their priority. They often have service delivery problems due to vehicle breakdowns and the suchlike, but they communicate and do their best.
Now what is hysterical, is that residents of JHB pay their rates and taxes, which pay for services like refuse removal, water etc. Its an imperative, because a household can't go with out water electricity etc. So its one of the revenue incomes that is consistent and steady.
We all know that the ANC is expert at stealing all funds that goes into their coffers, now they are stealing from every individual that has the wherewithal to have a home and be a solid citizen.
Everyone in the "Rubbish" business is shouting nepotism, fraud, money laundering, abuse, oh my gosh ...the sad thing is that it is guaranteed, that is exactly what is going on. The city of Joburg is broke, thats a fact, and it seems that the last vestige of money is everybody's rates. So some big wig has nicked the money that is supposed to pay PIKITUP and they can't pay the 380 odd workers who climb on trucks every morning to collect rubbish.
No answer is sight and once again the citizen absorbs the slow collapse of this once proud city.
Deep sigh. At least we won the rugby. Yay.
