Do the right thing this winter
14 May 2024
As winter approaches and temperatures start to drop, the City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate is proud to announce the start of our Preparing for Winter initiative. The City will be going toe-to-toe against the pressing issues of illegal dumping, blocked stormwater drains and water damming onto our roads. However, we need Capetonians to work with us. By doing the right thing, we can all minimise the impact of winter storms, mitigate flooding of our roads and neighbourhoods, and ensure safer roads for all.
‘The Urban Mobility Directorate is preparing for the wet season by clearing our stormwater infrastructure across Cape Town. Blocked inlets cause roads to flood and, as we have seen in the past, flooded roads often result in the flooding of houses in low-lying areas. While we are doing all we can, I’m calling on Capetonians to help us prepare for winter.
‘Without the cooperation of our residents, our efforts are in vain. We need residents to please work with us: do not dump any objects into the stormwater infrastructure; do not decant water onto roads, and report potholes as soon as possible so that our Roads Infrastructure Management teams can do the necessary repairs. Sometimes, a temporary repair will be done to keep the road safe until the surface is dry enough to undertake permanent repairs. Be that as it may, I want to assure residents we are doing all we can to mitigate the impact of wet weather on our road network,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
Residents can join efforts in mitigating flooding by promptly reporting instances of illegal dumping and blocked stormwater drains so that we can take action to clear obstructions and prevent potential flooding disasters. Illegal dumping of waste in our stormwater infrastructure can lead to blockages, causing water to accumulate and overflow onto roads, damaging infrastructure and posing hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
Grey and waste water (any water with a soapy substance) discharged onto road surfaces can cause significant damage to the road network, compromising its longevity and safety. Residents are urged to not pour washing water into roads and to ensure that nothing is deposited into stormwater drains that could obstruct the flow.
How to report blocked stormwater infrastructure and potholes:
• Use the City of Cape Town app
• Phone the City’s customer call centre on 0860 103 089
• Or, log a service request on www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests
Together, we can keep our city safe and resilient this winter.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
