Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Cape Town Invests R39 Million in Winter Clean-Up to Prevent Floods

The City of Cape Town's Urban Waste Management (UWM) Directorate has kicked off its annual Winter Preparedness Programme, allocating R39 million to reduce flood and pollution risks. This initiative aims to keep gutters and drains free of litter, preventing blockages during heavy rains.

Photo: Pexels

Running until the end of September, the programme enforces the city's regular cleaning services. The focus is on clearing illegal dumping, sweeping streets, picking up litter from open spaces and riverbanks, installing and maintaining street litter bins, washing streets, and using mechanical equipment to clean highways. “When it rains, litter gets into our sewer and stormwater networks and can cause blockages, or it gets washed into our waterways where it flows out to the ocean”, said Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg. 

This effort operates Monday to Friday, eight hours a day, creating 1,117 temporary jobs and employing 26 vehicles to support the work.

Twigg urges locals to help this clean-up programme: "'Residents can help support UWM's efforts to reduce the risk of flooding. Please don't litter or dump, rather please use the solid waste services provided to get rid of your waste. Recycling can also assist in reducing potential blockages and pollution.”

Done by: Veerle Kroon

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