Winter Readiness Programme to boost flood prevention and create jobs
25 June 2026
As we are in Cape Town’s rainy season, the City’s Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate is ramping up efforts to help reduce flood risks, protect communities and prevent pollution by actioning its annual Winter Readiness Programme. Some R42,7 million will be invested in this programme this year, which provides extra cleansing services in areas most vulnerable to flooding and illegal dumping.
As part of the lead-up to the initiation of the annual UWM Winter Readiness Programme, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg joined cleansing teams in Doornbach, Dunoon, on Monday, 22 June to clean one of the many illegal dumping hotspots city-wide.
The programme, which will run from 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026 this year, focuses on removing waste that may end up in stormwater infrastructure and contribute to blockages/flooding during heavy rainfall events. This includes the following activities:
- Removing illegal dumping
- Street sweeping
- Litter picking in open spaces, gullies, verges and along riverbanks
- Installing and servicing street litter bins
- Washing streets with water tankers where required
- Mechanically sweeping highways and byways
The programme will also create nearly 2 281 temporary employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) over this period, providing much-needed work opportunities for our most vulnerable residents.
'The Winter Readiness Programme plays a critical role in preparing Cape Town for the challenges linked to winter rainfall. Litter and illegally dumped waste are often washed into stormwater systems and sewer drains, causing blockages that can lead to flooding and damage to infrastructure.
'By proactively clearing dumping hotspots, cleaning streets and maintaining critical drainage points, we can help reduce the risk of flooding, improve the environment and ensure that municipal resources are directed where they are needed most.
'These efforts also help protect our rivers, waterways and coastline by preventing litter from entering stormwater channels and ultimately reaching the ocean.
'While the City continues to invest significantly in keeping Cape Town clean and resilient, residents also have an important role to play. We urge everyone to get rid of waste responsibly, use available bins and City Community Recycling Centres (Drop-off facilities), and report illegal dumping so that swift action can be taken,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
Report illegal dumping
Get a reference number to track the progress of your service request.
If you have the vehicle registration number of an offender or can identify the individual responsible, contact the City's enforcement line on 021 444 6231, 021 444 6224 or 021 444 6223.
Caption 1: Councillor for Ward 104 Bulelwa Mayende (left) with Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management (right), joined the cleansing team in Dunoon to clear illegal dumping.
Caption 2: Councillor for Ward 104 Bulelwa Mayende (left) with Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management (right) at an illegal dumping hotspot in Dunoon.
Caption 3: The City’s cleansing team cleans illegal dumping spaces like this one in Dunoon.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
