City working tirelessly to get refuse collection schedule back to normal in affected informal settlements

02 August 2023

Residents are assured that the City’s Urban Waste Management Directorate is making every effort to address the refuse collection delays that are currently being experienced in affected informal settlements across Cape Town. City teams are extending their internal resources to also service the areas normally done by contractors. 

The City is aware of the current situation on the ground in affected informal settlements in Cape Town.

Affected areas or parts thereof include Khayelitsha, Delft, Wallacedene, Driftsands, Fairdale, Dunoon, Atlantis, Philippi, Gugulethu and Langa.

Cleansing services in these areas have unfortunately been affected since 1 July 2023. Since then, City teams have been servicing affected areas by extending their internal resources and will continue to do so until further notice.

Currently the City is deploying cleansing workers from other programmes in the city, including specialised cleansing services (i.e. heavy lifting machinery) to clear dumping hotspots, and is working over weekends to address the situation on the ground. Unfortunately there are simply not enough staff available to realistically compensate for absence of normal planned programmes currently.

However, please be assured that the City is following due process towards resuming normal cleansing services with due urgency, and it is looking at all options and alternative cleansing services in all disrupted areas during August. We understand the dire nature of this situation and everything possible is being done to expedite a solution. 

The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused to residents who have been negatively affected by this disruption.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office