The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, recently visited the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s designated Security and Protection Unit to extend his gratitude for their invaluable role in ensuring staff safety.
The unit primarily focuses on escorting and protecting operational staff as they carry out essential services, such as pipe repairs and installations. They also patrol depots and pump stations, and assist with serving notices where necessary, for by-law violations.
Comprising 33 Law Enforcement officers and an administrative support team, the unit is set to double its capacity with an additional 37 staff members planned for recruitment in the upcoming 2025/26 financial year. Between January and June 2024, the officers escorted 1 080 jobs, conducted 419 depot patrols and 730 pump station patrols.
Some high-risk areas where security escorts have been required for continuity of services include Manenberg, Philippi, Samora Machel, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga and Hanover Park.
Notable achievements since inception:
- Ensured public safety at water tankers and safeguarded operational staff working overnight to install new water pipes, during two major shutdowns: a 75-hour operation in September 2022 and a 72-hour operation in June 2024
- Significantly reduced vandalism at the City’s water and sewer pump stations through increased visibility and regular patrols
- Received several Water and Sanitation awards, including ‘Best Collaboration’ in 2023 and ‘Service Excellence and Innovation’ in 2024
- Staff honoured for their bravery in September 2024 by the Executive Mayor, for assisting two women involved in a motor vehicle accident
