City of Cape Town Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille, has issued an apology to affected residents who did not have their refuse collected over the festive season. She also sent a stern warning to those officials appointed by the City who do not deliver.
In a statement released by the mayor, Alderman De Lille apologised unreservedly for lack of service delivery to residents of Seawinds and Imizamo Yethu, stating that the fault lay with the contracted service providers who failed to fulfil their contractual obligations.
“I have instructed that disciplinary action be taken against the relevant City of Cape Town officials who failed to adequately monitor refuse collection in these areas.
The City had already sent in its own specialised teams to remove refusein Imizamo Yethu, and will be concluded in Seawinds.
De Lille stated that the City is to review the contracts with the service providers who service Seawinds and Imizamo Yethu and would institute breach of contract processes if found to be warranted.
To avoid similar problems occurring in future De Lille said that the City is in the process of strengthening its monitoring capacity to ensure high levels of service delivery across the city. She added that 16 additional monitoring posts are in the process of being filled.
The city is also doing its best to ensure all citizens are provided essential services, such as refuse removal, and renewed its commitment to hold accountable those who fail to deliver on their duties.
“I have requested that the Solid Waste Management Department conduct an urgent audit of all informal settlements to determine whether any other contractors have failed to provide the necessary level of service, and that, wherever necessary, remedial action is taken without delay.
“These initiatives are part of our commitment to build a Caring City in which all residents, most especially the poor and the vulnerable, are able to live in dignified circumstances,” said De Lille.
Elsewhere, refuse-collection continued uninterrupted during the festive period with no major incidents reported.
Residents are advised to contact the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 or send an e-mail to wastewise.user@capetown.gov.za for any Solid Waste service queries. For more information, please visit the Solid Waste Management website.
