In a statement by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Demetri Qually over the weekend, the City of Cape Town noted that it had received notice of strike action by members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU). The strike was due to begin on Monday 23 September 2013.

According to Qually, the City of Cape Town has put contingency measures in place and will do as much as they are able to continue delivering services and minimise the effects of the strike on residents.  Some services – such as refuse collection specifically – may however still be affected.

“The City will do all that it can to ensure that residents’ refuse is collected and that refuse drop-off sites remain open. Residents are requested to leave their refuse bins outside on the pavement until they have been collected. Available resources will be allocated to deal with any disruption and subsequent backlog, with staff working overtime where necessary,” said Qually.

The statement also indicated that it is not possible to predict which areas will be affected at this stage, but the City would communicate this information as it becomes available.

“While the City respects the rights of staff to strike, we will ensure that any negative impact on our core service delivery functions is minimised. We have in the past managed to continue delivering services to our residents despite strikes, and trust that our contingency plans will allow us to do the same now.

“The City of Cape Town appeals to residents for their patience and understanding,” concluded Qually.