GOOD statement by Suzette Little,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor and Caucus Chairperson
4 November 2024
Evidence is mounting against the City of Cape Town regarding the mismanagement of water resources, with findings from the Department of Labour (DoL) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) painting a troubling picture.
While City officials point to clean audits and insist everything is under control, we can all smell the rotten stench of systemic failure to protect public health, city employees, and the environment.
In early 2024, inspections of the City of Cape Town’s water and sanitation facilities revealed significant violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85), resulting in the issuance of compliance notices.
Despite a 60-day deadline to address these issues, MMC Zahid Badroodien’s department has yet to acknowledge these breaches, many of which pose serious threats to the safety of workers.
Moreover, this is not the only legal directive that Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’ administration has blue-ticked. The DFFE has issued compliance notices to the City to stop its disgusting and illegal sewage discharge in Hout Bay.
Yet, the City continues to discharge 30 million litres of raw, untreated sewage along the Atlantic seaboard. Clean audits can’t cover up the rotten stench of the City far exceeding permissible sewage volumes into our ocean.
Instead, the City will use its handful of Blue Flag beaches for public relations instead of taking responsibility for public health, worker safety, and environmental protection.
GOOD calls on the Mayor and MCC Badroodien to:
• Address all health and safety issues identified by the Department of Labour.
• Investigate why unqualified managers were hired for Water and Sanitation facilities.
• - Make water quality testing open and honest to show the real risks to public health.
• Stop treating environmental damage as acceptable, and take real steps to protect our marine resources.
The public deserves transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to health, safety, and environmental protection.
Anything less is a disservice to the residents of this city.
Media enquiries
Suzette Little: GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor & Caucus Chairperson
Cell: 073 321 5036
Email: suzettel@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za