This is an extract from today’s Council speech. The full speech can be found here.
During the first week of this new administration, I have had extensive briefings and engagements to get a firm understanding of the City’s budget and expenditure, and have begun preparations for the January adjustments budget.
Along with the Deputy Mayor, we have also begun detailed briefings on policy issues, and have begun to set out our agenda for the first three and six months of the government, including putting in place a process discussion for the new Integrated Development Plan.
In all of the engagements I have had this week, I have been deeply impressed with the quality, talent and commitment of City of Cape Town officials who are among the most impressive public servants I have ever seen. I look forward to many more, and more detailed briefings and engagements in the days ahead.
Sewage has clearly been a challenge for some of our communities, which is why on my first day in office after being sworn in last week I visited the Zandvliet wastewater treatment plant and areas in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, and Phoenix in Milnerton, that have been affected by sewage spills. I know there are other areas of the City also affected, and in some cases worse than those I visited last week. I intend to also visit Wallacedene, Wesbank and Montrose Park in Mitchells Plain. I am grateful to Councillors Sawant, Witbooi, Plaatjes and others for being in constant contact with me about this.
As you already know, there is very significant capital investment in new water and sewage infrastructure. But this is a medium term effort.
After the visit to Khayelitsha, I have asked the Water and Sanitation team to produce a short-term improvement plan to reduce waiting times on sewer spills. This plan may require additional funding in the adjustments budget for machinery and manpower. I will report to the House on progress.
But let me reiterate my statement last week: Our purpose is to build a city where every person feels pride, care, respect and inclusion. This is not possible when sewer spills take weeks to resolve.
I am very grateful that every spill I have reported this week, and I’ve reported five or six, have been fixed within 24 or 36 hours. This should apply to everyone.
I have a great degree of confidence that Dr Zahid Badroodien will apply his caring spirit and his incisive intellect to this problem in the months ahead.
I want to reiterate my call to communities to help us prevent the abuse of our sewer system. Please report this abuse when you see it. We will be discussing plans in the weeks ahead to start a proper reward system for those who help us protect the infrastructure on which we all depend.