Toilet cleaning services in Kraaifontein and Wallacedene have been halted since Monday, November 11, after gangs demanded a protection fee.
The extortion threats forced workers to abandon their duties and let human waste pile up.
Human Waste Piles Up As Western Cape Gangs Demands Protection Fee From Toilet Cleaners
A gang reportedly approached workers, demanding they pay a protection fee or cease operations. A note handed to the workers and seen by Daily Sun read:
“We, as protection fee guys, want your truck to pay protection fee here in Kraaifontein. Otherwise, your truck will not work here again in Kraaifontein.”
The disruptions have left residents in 23 informal settlements, including Area 19, Social Distance, Simanga-Bloekombos, and Marikana, without essential sanitation services. The interruptions impact over 2,000 container toilets and 230 chemical toilets, raising serious health concerns.
Western Cape Government Condemns The Extortion Threats
Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien condemned the extortion attempts, emphasising their impact on vulnerable communities.
“The city condemns extortion because it directly impacts the dignity of our residents by jeopardising our efforts to deliver basic sanitation services through collection and cleaning of toilets in informal settlements,” he said.
To address the crisis, the city has arranged for security and law enforcement escorts for sanitation service providers. However, safety concerns have delayed the resumption of services in some high-risk areas.
Human Waste Piles Up As Western Cape Gangs Demands Protection Fee From Toilet Cleaning Services [Image: Misheck Makora Daily Sun]Kraaifontein remains a hotspot for gang violence and extortion, with local vendors and residents frequently targeted. In a tragic incident two months ago, a 64-year-old woman was killed for allegedly refusing to pay a protection fee.
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Kabelo Kula, a community leader in the Social Distance informal settlement, voiced the community’s frustration.
“We were informed that the trucks coming to our areas have been threatened. We now face a health hazard. We hope the city will come and clean the toilets as they are full,” he said.
Residents are urged to report extortion to the city’s 24-hour anonymous hotline at 0800 00 6992 or via email at SSIMS.SSIUReporting@capetown.gov.za. The municipality assured residents that all efforts are being made to restore services safely.
The city has recorded 14 extortion incidents affecting sanitation services since April 2023.