The City of Cape Town has condemned the hijacking of its waste services vehicles over the past two and a half months, the latest incident taking place on Wednesday, September 11.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Councillor Grant Twigg said 11 of the department's vehicles have been hijacked along with one attempted hijacking.
The latest incident on Wednesday took place in Ilitha Park in Khayelitsha where a white Isuzu bakkie was hijacked.
The hijacked vehicle was used for refuse collection beat inspections during the day and for staff transport at night. The driver was accosted as he was parking the vehicle at his home, after dropping colleagues who had worked a late shift.
Twigg said the safety of city staff and resources remains a challenge as teams deliver services across the Cape metro.
“The 12 incidents occurred between July 1, 2024, and September 11, 2024, in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Happy Valley and Mfuleni. Two of these vehicles are still missing: a white Isuzu LDV KB250 and a white Nissan NP300 LDV. The others were recovered.
“The City strongly condemns attacks on our staff and resources who are trying to deliver services. Such criminal acts are unacceptable and it hampers staff morale and service delivery. The City will continue its best to ensure the safety of our staff and resources as much as possible,” Twigg said.
He said fortunately the staff member in the latest incident was not physically harmed and has been offered counselling through the employee assistance programme following the traumatic experience.
A case has also been opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“We need the public’s help. Someone, somewhere must know about this incident so we urge anyone with information about this case to please report it to SAPS for their investigation. We cannot let criminals rob us of our resources which are ultimately there to benefit our communities through service delivery.
“The City also has a dedicated tip-off line where information can be relayed 24/7 on 0800 110077. If the information leads to a successful arrest, or the recovery of stolen property, the person may be eligible to receive a reward. They can remain anonymous,” Twigg said.
He said residents should keep in mind that safety risks to staff can sometimes delay services. Twigg said when there were delays, residents should please leave bins out until 9pm each day until collected. He said the waste would be cleared as soon as it was safe to do so. He urged residents to refrain from illegal dumping.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL