Extortion threats disrupt toilet-cleaning services in Kraaifontein and Wallacedene

18 November 2024

The City of Cape Town's service provider has received extortion threats, forcing a halt to cleaning services of approximately 300 container toilets in informal settlements in Kraaifontein and Wallacedene since Monday, 11 November 2024.

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate strongly condemns acts of extortion, which have a detrimental impact on the health and sanitation conditions in the affected communities.

All efforts are being made to address the situation in order for services to resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

To date the directorate has been confronted with 14 extortion incidents between April 2023 and November 2024. This has resulted in service disruptions in 23 informal settlements, with cleanliness and maintenance standards compromised in 2 000 container toilets and 230 chemical toilets.

‘The City condemns extortion because it directly impacts the dignity of our residents, by jeopardising our efforts to deliver basic sanitation services through collection and cleaning of toilets in informal settlements. Arrangements have been made to support service providers with security or law enforcement protection to enable continuity of the essential service,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

To address these ongoing threats, multiple City departments are working together to find sustainable solutions to prevent further service disruptions.

The City has also set-up a 24-hour hotline, which allows residents to anonymously report incidents of intimidation and extortion. To help authorities put an end to extortion, residents are encouraged to report any information or tip-offs directly to the City.

Anonymous 24/7 extortion tip-off hotline:
• Phone 24/7: 0800 00 6992
• Email: SSIMS.SSIUReporting@capetown.gov.za

  
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Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town