Cape Town vandalism: City is facing multi-million rand losses

Persistent incidents of vandalism and theft are wreaking havoc on the City’s water and sanitation services, costing the City millions and posing a significant operational challenge.

The ongoing acts not only disrupt essential services but also incur unnecessary expenses, diverting resources that could otherwise improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

WATER AND SANITATION DIRECTORATE EXPENDITURE TOPS R12 MILLION ON VANDALISM REPAIRS

This financial year, the Water and Sanitation Directorate spent over R12 million repairing and replacing vandalised and stolen equipment.

In informal areas, they allocated about R1.18 million to replace 89 manhole covers, 80 rodding eyes, 1034 stolen taps, and 257 vandalised and missing toilet parts. In formal areas, the cost surged to R10.8 million to replace 3666 missing manhole covers, 2809 stolen water meters, 649 meter covers, 1204 hydrant covers, and 275 missing valve covers.

These replacements strain financial resources and cause delays in addressing service issues, diverting precious time and resources from maintaining and enhancing service quality.

Beyond the financial burden, vandalism jeopardises public health and safety, causing inconvenience. Damage to the water network or pipelines can compromise water quality, while disruptions in sanitation services can lead to sewer overflows, posing risks to public health.

From July 2023 to March 2024, the Directorate addressed 64 149 sewer blockages, with 52 665 due to misuse. Approximately 82% of blockages resulted from system misuse, costing about R371.7 million to resolve.

CITY OFFICIAL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO RELIABLE WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES

Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, stressed the City’s commitment to providing reliable and efficient services to communities.

“The City is committed to providing reliable and efficient services to communities. However, the ongoing threat of vandalism and theft undermines these efforts and needs collaborative action from communities, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders,” he said.

Badroodien emphasised the importance of protecting the network of pipes and equipment to preserve essential services and contribute to the overall well-being and development of communities. He called for collective action to create a future free from the threat of vandalism and theft.

“By protecting our network of pipes and equipment, we not only preserve essential services but also contribute to the overall well-being and development of communities. Let us work together towards a future where we are free from the threat of vandalism and theft,’” he added.

PLANNED MAINTENANCE FOR THIS WEEK

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is diligently preparing for essential maintenance work across various areas, aimed at bolstering the city’s water supply infrastructure. While these scheduled undertakings signify a commitment to improving service quality, residents should anticipate potential disruptions to their water supply in the coming days.