More than 250 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) janitors have been appointed since September 2026 to help maintain more than 5 000 City-owned full-flush toilets in informal settlements across Cape Town. A total of 650 janitors are planned to be recruited by December 2026. 

The appointments form part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s efforts to support the upkeep of communal sanitation facilities used by residents in informal settlements.

‘Clean, well-maintained communal toilets are important for the dignity and wellbeing of residents who rely on shared sanitation facilities.

‘The appointment of additional EPWP janitors will help strengthen the support available to communities while providing short-term employment opportunities. We ask residents to help care for these facilities, use them responsibly and report any damage, blockages or other service-related issues to the City,’ said Alderman Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

Caption 1: Janitorial service at informal settlements across Cape Town has been reinstated as from September 2026.From left: Andiswa Mongezi, Sicelo Stulweni, Samora Mthobeli, Shukri Isaacs, Adnaan Safiedien, Danielle Smith, Mphumzi Nogemane, Fazlin Stout, Athenkosi Mbukuqu, Christen Torien, Natasha Hendricks, Jade Leigh, Sango Sotomela.

More deployments planned

Janitors have already been deployed in Witsand, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Imizamo Yethu, Philippi, Fisantekraal, Masiphumelele, Strand, Village Heights and Delft.

Further deployments are planned during November and December 2026 in informal settlements across Khayelitsha, Strand, Nyanga, Samora, Gugulethu, Philippi, Dunoon, Mfuleni and Kraaifontein. The roll-out will continue as recruitment and operational arrangements are finalised.

Caption 2: Fazlin Stout and Christen Torien were recently employed as janitors at the Village Heights Informal Settlement in Seawinds.

Residents encouraged to register for EPWP opportunities

Residents in Gugulethu (Sikhonanathi, Sakhile, Masilunge and Phola Park), Mfuleni, Masiphumelele and Strand are encouraged to register on the City’s EPWP database if they wish to be considered for opportunities. Those already registered should ensure their contact details are up to date.

Recruitment can be delayed when there are too few registered applicants in an area or when the City cannot contact people on the database.

The janitors are appointed on six month contracts, with deployments rotated as part of the programme.