A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY task team, termed ‘Operation Good Hope’ encourages
residents to keep their areas free of litter as they tackle holistic service delivery
challenges in the City. Chief Operations Officer, Musa Mbhele said the task team seeks to address service delivery issues, create awareness by educating the public while engaging with stakeholders. The task team also focuses on enforcement, cleansing and waste removal as well as conducting repairs and maintenance of infrastructure. Social challenges arising from homelessness is also on the agenda of the task team. “We are instilling a culture of caring for the environment and safeguarding Municipal infrastructure. Unmanaged litter can cause serious environmental and health challenges. In our efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable City, we are committed to assisting residents to keep their areas clean,” said Mbhele. Mbhele said Operation Good Hope’s Friday’s joint operations sees the enforcement of business compliance to the City’s by-laws to protect residents from buying rotten food as well as fake and stolen goods. He urged residents to report broken infrastructure and service delivery challenges in their areas by contacting their ward councillors or community structures such as war rooms and ward committees.

“This is a multi-pronged approach consisting of all Municipal units and departments as well as other external stakeholders, such as provincial government departments, private organisations, communities and non-governmental organisations,” said Mbhele. Commenting on reports of vandalism of Municipal infrastructure, Mbhele said it will not be tolerated as
it contravenes Municipal bylaws. “Residents must protect infrastructure and facilities from being vandalised. It is a setback for government to repair a facility instead of focusing on addressing other service delivery issues.
We encourage an attitude and behavioural change to create a City that we can be proud to work and live in,” he concluded.

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