CAPE TOWN — Residents of Langa Flats and Khayelitsha are demanding that the City of Cape Town fully implement the remedial actions outlined in Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka’s recent report on systemic service delivery failures. The comprehensive investigation concluded that the municipality has failed its constitutional obligation to provide essential services to these communities, sparking urgent calls for immediate accountability and structural repairs.
Advocate Gcaleka’s findings detail severe systemic failures, mandating specific remedial actions from the municipality. Among the directives, the municipal manager is required to ensure that water services are restored in areas such as the SS Maran formal settlement within 30 days of receiving the report.
In response to the findings, the City of Cape Town issued a statement acknowledging the report. The municipality claimed that it was already working toward addressing several of the raised issues or had previously resolved some of them. However, the Public Protector’s recommendations also extend to financial oversight, advising the National Treasury to investigate the withholding of the city’s equitable share of funds. The Treasury is currently briefing stakeholders on the reasons for withholding these funds, which are crucial for supporting indigent families unable to afford basic services like water and electricity.
On the ground in Langa Flats, one of the areas prominently featured in the investigation, a local spokesperson (a Councillor) highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by residents. While acknowledging minor improvements brought about by relentless community pressure on local councillors and the city, he emphasized that severe structural issues remain unresolved.
According to the Councillor, persistent water leakages from upper floors are causing significant structural damage and widespread mould throughout the flats. In some apartments, water seeping from the ceiling has rendered rooms uninhabitable, forcing families to confine their living spaces to a single room. These damp and mouldy conditions pose serious health risks, particularly to young children and the elderly residing in the complex.
Furthermore, basic refuse removal remains unsorted. The majority of the community lacks wheelie bins, resulting in waste accumulating across the area.
Security of tenure is another critical concern highlighted by the Councillor. Over 90% of the residents in Langa Flats still do not have formal lease agreements with the City of Cape Town. The Councillor noted that issuing leases is nearly impossible while the municipality fails to maintain the properties, urging the city to prioritize lease agreements to grant residents the security of tenure they are owed.
