Extortion threats in Cape Town informal settlements are limiting waste collection to three times a week, forcing residents to illegally dump rubbish in open spaces and alleys.

• Extortion threats in Cape Town informal settlements are limiting waste collection to three times a week, forcing residents to illegally dump rubbish in open spaces and alleys.
• The City of Cape Town spent R137 million clearing preventable sewer blockages caused by illegal dumping, with fines for dumping increasing 60% to more than 20 000 cases.
• Residents in Nyanga, Philippi and Samora Machel reported dumping everything from household waste to construction rubble and dead animals due to limited collection services.

Extortion threats are affecting rubbish collection in informal settlements in Nyanga, Philippi, and Samora Machel, according to the City of Cape Town.

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo told GroundUp that waste collection from shipping containers was currently affected by extortion threats directed at the contractor.

He said the contractor could empty the containers only three times a week, “subject to the availability of law enforcement resources, which is limited”.

The City had registered a criminal case with the police.

Philippi resident Xolile Phila said people were throwing rubbish in alleys.

“Some people even throw dead dogs in these spaces. We try to encourage each other to keep our area clean, but not everyone listens,” he added.

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Abongile Ntencane, who lives in Samora Machel, said people building houses often threw rubble in open spaces.

Ntencane added:

GroundUp saw a group of men dumping rubbish in an open space in Philippi.

They said their bins were full.

“We know it is wrong to throw here; we don’t have a choice because we cannot stay with waste in our homes,” added one of them, who did not want to be identified.

The City warned that dumping in stormwater drains blocked the network and caused flooding when it rained.

Its water and sanitation directorate attended to 110 598 sewer blockages across its more than 9 000km sewer pipeline network during the 2024/25 financial year.

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About R137 million went towards clearing preventable blockages caused by items that should never have entered the system, the City said.

Fines for illegal dumping increased by nearly 60% from 12 825 in 2023/24 to 20 356.

“If any resident suspects dumping in their area is linked to a specific enterprise, we encourage them to engage the City so that a compliance inspection can be performed. Recognising the challenges facing small businesses, in these cases, the City will always first try to achieve compliance and prevent dumping through non-punitive measures. However, if the business refuses to comply, fines can be issued,” the City added.