Refuse collection services have been withdrawn from Philippi East after two security guards, who were escorting Urban Waste Management (UWM) staff, were murdered.
Also read: CoCT takes action against refuse collection extortion
According to the City of Cape Town, services needed to be withdrawn for the second time this year after an attack on the private security escorts protecting UWM staff and vehicles operating in the area.
‘The City is alarmed by the reports of an attack on the crew that were collecting refuse in the area of Philippi East,’ CoCT said on Thursday.
‘This incident follows the extortion threats that saw contractors in the area pull out of service delivery earlier in the year. Since then, the City has arranged for internal staff that normally operate in other areas to perform this service in Philippi East under security escort.’
In order to deal with criminal elements that are endangering staff and contractors, the UWM will speak with SAPS and the City’s Safety and Security Directorate and ask for their urgent assistance.
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‘On behalf of UWM, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the families of the two guards who unfortunately lost their lives through this attack,’ said Mayco member for urban waste management, Grant Twigg.
‘We are considering various ways on how we can move forward and ensure that we safely resume services so that service delivery can continue.’
Residents were asked not to dump uncollected waste until more information about eradicating local backlogs or potential adjustments to waste collection schedules was released.
Residents were also urged to note the location of the City’s drop-off sites and the materials they accept.
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