Cape Town Criticizes Water Debt Staff's Intimidation After Videos Surface On Social Media

The City of Cape Town has denounced instances of intimidation faced by water debt management staff, while carrying out their assignments, which were captured on video and shared on social media.

In a statement, the municipality said these videos spread false information about the debt management process, causing confusion and unnecessary division within the community.

"The city does offer debt relief when residents qualify. However, in certain instances, debt management is required to sustain services," the municipality said, SA News reported. "Targeting staff on the field infringes on their rights to a safe work environment and undermines the value of the essential services provided to all residents through the City's revenue management practices."

The city emphasized that debt management was carried out fairly and transparently, ensuring all customers have continued access to water and sanitation services. It also explained that the city followed a strict process before taking any debt management actions, in line with its Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy.

Furthermore, the city kept a record of all communication with residents to address any claims of not being contacted.

Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien said that if residents were not able to pay their full water bills, they could also set up interest-free payment plans to avoid service restrictions.

He clarified that if there were still unpaid bills and no payment arrangement was made, the water supply was reduced to the free basic allocation of 6kl per month, and not completely cut off, until the residents can arrange payments.

The staff at the city's walk-in centers were available to help with this process, Badroodien added.

He also stressed that the staff and contractors were given clear instructions to ensure that properties were left with a restricted water supply when necessary. He also urged the public to avoid aggressive behavior towards staff, who were just carrying out their duties, stressing that anyone involved in violence or intimidation will face legal consequences.

Badroodien urged community leaders and residents to get information from reliable city sources and avoid being misled by unverified content on social media, emphasizing that the city was committed to maintaining open communication and building trust with residents.