Cape Town waste management staff face alarming rise in violence and hijackings

Urban Waste Management staff in Cape Town are grappling with a troubling increase in hijackings and violent attacks, endangering their lives and disrupting vital waste collection services that hundreds of thousands of residents depend on.

The City’s Urban Waste Management Directorate has strongly condemned these ongoing incidents, which have impacted several key departments, including Cleansing, Collections, Disposal, and Public Awareness.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 57 hijackings of service vehicles were reported, with a high concentration in the Cape Flats and parts of the Overberg subregion.

Only 21 of the hijacked vehicles have been recovered. The incidents include the hijacking of Bingo, the City’s anti-litter mascot, and his driver.

Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg, described the attacks as “unacceptable” and emphasised the risks to staff.

“Our staff are simply trying to do their jobs, keeping our communities clean and healthy. They are public servants, not targets,” Twigg said.

Twigg also highlighted the broader implications: “These incidents threaten public health, safety, and the ability of residents to receive essential services. Our staff face real danger while performing their duties.”

Twigg said the City continues to work with law enforcement to safeguard staff and bring perpetrators to justice.

The Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board's spokesperson, Rafique Foflonker, also condemned the hijackings, describing them as senseless crimes that endanger public servants while disrupting essential services.

“Behind every hijacked vehicle is a traumatised worker and a community left without vital services. Such acts undermine public health, safety, and the dignity of both employees and residents,” he said.

The board commended the City for continuing to invest in vehicles, infrastructure, and safety measures despite the setbacks, Foflonker said.

Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the SAPS or the City’s dedicated tip-off line at 0800 110077.

Opposition leaders have also weighed in, highlighting the need to protect municipal workers.

ANC regional chairperson Ndithini Thyido said: “We condemn crime in its totality. We even strongly condemn the crime that is aimed at emergency services and all service personnel. This includes the City’s cleaning staff and water and sanitation teams. We condemn any form of criminality, violence, and targeting of service personnel.”

Thyido highlighted the role of neighbourhood watch groups and Community Police Forums in safeguarding municipal workers.

He also criticised the City’s blanket approach of deploying five Metro Police officers per ward, arguing it does not reflect the varying crime levels across the metro.

“Deploying the same number of officers in areas with lower crime rates, as compared to hotspots like Delft or Lavender Hill, does not make sense,” Thyido said.

Twigg said the dedicated tip-off line is operational: “The coordinated effort aims not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to ensure that essential services can continue uninterrupted while safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of Cape Town’s municipal staff,” he said.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus