The City of Cape Town has been informed that the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) intend to proceed with strike action from Monday, 27 July 2009.

As the City’s primary responsibility is service delivery to its residents, it has implemented contingency plans to ensure that service delivery continues.

Residents must place their wheelie bins out as usual on their standard collection day. Should these not be emptied by the end of the day, residents are requested to leave them out for the rest of the week, as the Solid Waste Department will catch up later in the week.

Should residents experience a build up of refuse and wish to dispose of it during this period they are advised to use the City’s drop-off facilities and landfill sites. Please note that only vehicles (cars, trailers or bakkies) with a maximum capacity of up to 1.3 tonnes will be allowed to dispose of their waste in this way on a free of charge basis. To accommodate household waste during this period, extra skips will be provided and drop-off facility hours have been extended from 07:00 to 20:00 each day. Limited extended hours have been provided at the landfill sites to accept domestic waste. For more information, residents may contact the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089. The call centre is operational from 07:00 to 17:00 (Monday to Friday); 08:00 – 14:00 (Saturday) and 09:00 – 13:00 (Sunday).

Refuse collection in informal settlements may also be affected by the strike action and residents are requested to take their household waste to the containers located in the settlements.

Street sweeping, emptying of litter bins and the removal of illegally dumped material may also be affected and the City requests residents’ patience in this regard.

Access to the Civic Centre in central Cape Town will also be restricted during the strike. Only those with specific Council business such as the payment of municipal accounts, vehicle licences or appointments with specific officials, will be allowed entry.

The City requests members of the public to contact the Metro Police’s Radio Control Room on 021 596 1999 in the event that they observe any disruptions or damage caused by City staff participating in strike.

The City will provide regular reports to the public via the media and its website during the strike.