City aware of JSM plans to trash the Inner City.
A message from Executive Mayor Cllr Herman Mashaba
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City aware of JSM plans to trash the Inner City.
“It has come to my attention that the Joburg Social Movement (JSM), representing former Jozi@Work beneficiaries, is allegedly planning to trash areas such as Hillbrow, Joubert Park, the Central Business District and Braamfontein, at the end of this month.
This is set to follow the expiration date of three-month Pikitup contracts signed by former Jozi@Work beneficiaries through the City’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Although the City has been clear about the temporary and rotational nature of the contracts, the JSM alleges that the City promised them permanent employment. This is false. At no point did the City state or imply that anyone would be entitled to an extention, or that the three-month contracts would result in full-time employment.
In March, the JSM mobilised former Jozi@Work employees and bussed in others to trash the inner city and demand permanent employment.
The Jozi@Work programme was a wolf in a sheep’s clothing that resulted in middlemen being awarded multimillion-rand contracts to run projects. Our new approach to temporary work opportunities in the City will ensure that residents have fair and equal access to them on a rotational basis. Residents will be given these work opportunities directly through the City, and not through middlemen, thereby increasing the number of people who can fairly benefit from these work opportunities.
It must be noted that the City will not tolerate any form of illegal protest action which seeks to vandalise City property and disrupt the lives of our residents. I have met with senior officials from Pikitup, who have informed me that cleaning services in the inner city might be compromised should the JSM continue with their plans. However, all contingencies are in place to keep the city clean.
I respect the right of any organisation to legally and peacefully protest. However, I cannot allow a movement to destabalise the City and make it ungovernable, to serve their own political agenda, while leaving our hard working Pikitup employees to clean up their mess.
At all times, we must serve the best interests of our residents. Those planning to illegaly trash our inner city will face the full might of the law.
