Essential toilet-cleaning and clearing services at about 300 container toilets in Kraaifontein and Wallacedene informal settlements came to a halt today (Monday 18 November) amid extortion threats to water and sanitation service providers, resulting in a detrimental impact on the health and sanitation conditions in the affected communities.
According to a spokesperson at the City of Cape Town, 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, city wide.
A printed letter given to service providers by alleged extortionists reads as follows: We as protection guys, we want your truck to pay protection fee [sic] here in Kraaifontein. Otherwise, your truck will not work again here in Kraaifontein. Thank you.”
Strongly condemning the acts of extortion, the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien, said all efforts are being made to address the situation for services to resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Arrangements have been made to support service providers with security or law enforcement protection to enable continuity of the essential service. This action directly impacts the dignity of the residents in these areas by jeopardising the City’s efforts to deliver basic sanitation services through collection and cleaning of toilets in informal settlements. To address these ongoing threats, multiple City departments are working together to find sustainable solutions to prevent further service disruptions,” he said in a statement to the media.
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.
Incidents may be reported 24/7 on 0800 00 6992
