City restores refuse collection service in Seawinds and Imizamo Yethu

I have today intervened to ensure that refuse collection services are restored in Seawinds and Imizamo Yethu. I would like to apologise unreservedly to affected residents for the breakdown of refuse collection services that has occurred in these areas as a result of the contracted service providers failing to fulfil their contractual obligations.

I have instructed that disciplinary action be taken against the relevant City of Cape Town officials who have failed to adequately monitor refuse collection in these areas.

I would also like to assure residents that the City has sent in our own specialised teams to remove refuse. This process has already been completed in Imizamo Yethu, and will be done today in Seawinds.

The City will review the contracts with the service providers who service both of these areas and will institute breach of contract processes should this be warranted.

The City is also currently in the process of strengthening our monitoring capacity to ensure that there are high levels of service across the city. In this regard, 16 additional monitoring posts are in the process of being filled.

Finally, I have requested that the Solid Waste Management Department conduct an urgent audit of all informal settlements to determine whether any other contractors have failed to provide the necessary level of service, and that, wherever necessary, remedial action is taken without delay.

These initiatives are part of our commitment to build a Caring City in which all residents, most especially the poor and the vulnerable, are able to live in dignified circumstances.

Statement issued by Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town, January 9 2013

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