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City adds additional contingencies to tackle mowing backlog

Mowing services have been adversely affected by an ongoing appeal related to a mowing tender. To meet the growing demand for mowing of public open spaces in the city, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department has facilitated an interim Request For Quotation (RFQ) process, which allows qualifying service providers to assist with grass cutting and mowing until such time as the tender appeal process is finalised.

The City of Cape Town has managed to find a workaround for the growing mowing backlog. Multiple mowing RFQs under R200 000 to address urgent priorities have been advertised and are currently in the adjudication process. In addition, the Recreation and Parks Department has finalised a bulk RFQ process with the assistance of Supply Chain Management (SCM), on a month to month basis, until such time as the tender appeal process has been concluded. This serves as a longer term interim solution. The specifications for the bulk RFQ have been concluded and will be advertised. 'The RFQs will allow us to use community based vendors to help address the backlog, and respond effectively to the service requests from communities across the metropole. We are currently in the annual growth season for grass and other vegetation, which means rapid growth, and increased demands for the service. This intervention applies to all public open spaces, parks, sports fields and cemeteries, as well as along roadways, main arterials and scenic routes,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross. The department's service delivery model for mowing is currently based on a ratio of 70% of the function being outsourced versus 30% done through internal capacity. The procurement for services is to be done in terms of RFQs not exceeding R200 000, for specific areas or sites where there are immediate risks to safety and environmental compliance. This bulk RFQ is the latest intervention, following a number of other contingencies introduced earlier this year, to address the shortfall in services. Other interventions since June 2022 include working overtime after hours, and on weekends and public holidays and amending the mowing schedule to service as many areas as possible with limited resources. 'We kindly ask our residents to be patient as we get this process underway. We know that apart from being very unsightly, there are also potential safety risks associated with overgrown vegetation, and we have been working very hard behind the scenes to resolve the backlog. The City hopes that residents will start seeing a marked difference in their areas in the coming weeks,' said Councillor Van der Ross. End

2022-10-20T22:00:00Z

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