CoCT takes 'extremely expensive measures' to protect sewage system pipes - Hill-Lewis

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on Capetonians to stop dumping waste down sewage system pipes.

The city has launched its winter preparation efforts to prevent flooding.

Hill-Lewis says city teams have already cleaned a record 230km of sewer lines ahead of winter, which is more than the target they had set for themselves.

The mayor joined city teams' jet-cleaning sewers in Bishop Lavis on Thursday, as part of the metro's winter preparation efforts.

He said infrastructure vandalism and sewer pump stations were a constant battle they faced.

Hill-Lewis added that they've invested sums of money to secure the city's nearly 500 sewer pump stations from vandalism.

"Massive concrete walls, a spikey fence on top of the walls. Inside, I showed you the pepper spray bomb that's in there, that if people break in they get a face full of pepper spray. These are all extremely expensive measures that we have to take."

He further called on Capetonians to help protect the city's infrastructure.