Council has launched an investigation after a truckload of removable containers collected from portable flush toilets (PFTs) in the Helderberg was found dumped along an arterial route – allegedly by a subcontractor caught in the act.
The matter was brought to the attention of DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette before the festive season break, when a concerned resident turned to the newspaper with first-hand information on the dumping incident in Sir Lowry’s Pass on Friday 2 December.
According to the resident, a fellow resident and owner of a security company allegedly caught the City of Cape Town subcontractor illegally dumping the containers – referred to as cartridges, the lower tank of the PFT – near the railway servitude road in the vicinity of High Riding.
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette contacted the source, who further reported pouncing on two suspected perpetrators, a man and woman. The pair were allegedly seen hurling the cartridges from the medium-commercial truck into the bushes.
“I demanded they stop and instructed that they pack them back into the vehicle, which they did,” recalled the source, who is in possession of photos taken at the site where numerous cartridges were found dumped along with the vehicle allegedly involved in the dumping.
Furthermore, the source claimed to have confiscated the licence of the Isuzu NPR truck and shared information about the incident with safety and security partners as well as authorities.
Ward 84 councillor Norman McFarlane confirmed the matter was brought to his attention on Saturday 3 December. It was immediately reported on the City’s Illegal Dumping Hotline (021 444 6231) and to Law Enforcement, which responded on the day.
“Due process will be followed to call the contractor to account,” he said in swift response to an email enquiry to council on Friday 9 December. “It is entirely unacceptable that a contractor performs in this fashion, especially in an area where the needs of the poorest of the poor are compromised.”
However in a response to the same enquiry early last week, Siseko Mbandezi, acting Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, said: “The City’s Informal Settlements Basic Services branch is currently investigating this matter after it was brought to our attention for the first time when the media enquiry was received. The outcome of the investigation will determine the way forward. Penalties will be applied where an act of irregularity is found.”
Asked to provide insight into container-based sanitation, Mbandezi explained PFTs are provided by the City to residents of informal settlements interested in using this sanitation type in their homes as a supplementary service to that of existing communal toilets in the settlement. It provides safety and privacy. The service provider collects these toilets on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to clean and disinfect the containers at Borcherds Quarry Waste Treatment Facility.
Mbandezi said in Sir Lowry’s Pass, specifically, a total of 102 PFTs are provided to informal settlements such as Rasta Camp, Pine Town, Savage and Love More (Riemvasmaak), Suncity, Railway and Uitkyk.
He further explained the lifespan of PFT is about two years. The user is responsible for keeping the top tank clean, while the lower waste tank is serviced by the service provider four times a week.
“When the City receives a request from the community to discard or replace a PFT, the Informal Settlements Basic Services Department will arrange a meeting with leadership, a contractor or the community for an inspection to determine whether a replacement is required,” he explained.
“If it is due, the City arranges with contractor to collect the full unit to be cleaned and prepared for condemnation. Together, the contractor and the City’s condemnation officer count the units before it’s disposed at the Visserhok dumping site.”
Asked about the subcontractor allegedly involved in the incident, Mbandezi said the City had been roping in the service for Area 2 for five months. “The City has not received any complaints of this nature about this service area before,” he added.
Mbandezi said the Informal Settlements Basic Services branch, from this month, has more resources at its disposal to monitor operations of service providers.
He urged residents to report illegal dumping by calling 0860 103 089, visiting www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests, sending an email to [email protected] or visiting a City walk-in centre (see www.capetown.gov.za/facilities to find the closest one).
