Lower Crossroads, Cape Town residents are dumping their rubbish illegally because of a lack of Law Enforcement escorts for waste collectors trying to service the area.
The City of Cape Town waste collection service last visited the area before 25 December as services were suspended on Christmas Day.
According to the City’s MCM for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg, servicing the area without a security presence is currently impossible as threats of extortion continue.
“Services have resumed, but there is an ongoing risk of delays due to dangers of operating in the area, and residents should be made aware of this,” said Twigg.
Residents are urged to take their bins out each day until they are emptied. The City is hoping to complete the collection by the end of the week, even if teams have to work over the weekend.
Resident Nozuko Tyafa shared their frustration over the lack of communication regarding the failure to collect in their area during December.
Nozuko criticised the City for not spreading the word about the non-availability of Law Enforcement escorts, leading residents to place rubbish bins outside every day in the hope that waste collectors would show up.
Another resident suggested that the City should place containers in all illegal dumping sites so that residents can dispose of and burn their rubbish when Law Enforcement escorts are unavailable.
A lack of communication is blamed for the surge in illegal dumping sites, and the residents hold the City accountable for this.
Pictured above: Lower Crossroads residents in Cape Town have opted to use illegal dumping sites to dump rubbish after waste collection stopped before Christmas.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
