As part of its commitment to being a caring government, the City provides a daily janitorial service to ensure that full-flush toilets across informal settlements are kept clean.

The City employs janitors to undertake such work. These janitors are contracted from within each informal settlement as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme. This in turn ensures that local labour is utilised and all qualifying residents of informal settlements are able to benefit from employment opportunities offered by the City on a fair and equitable basis.

Prior to commencing their contracts, all janitors are required to be vaccinated against hepatitis. Unfortunately, as a result of an unforeseen supply-chain management procurement issue, the City has been unable to vaccinate any newly contracted janitors for a number of months. This has resulted in the janitorial programme being temporarily halted until such time as the City can ensure the health and safety of janitors. 

The City is aware of the frustration felt by informal settlement communities as a result of the halting of this programme. As a temporary solution, the City is making use of internal, permanent depot cleansing staff to clean these toilets.

The City would like to emphasise that this is a temporary measure aimed at ensuring that basic health standards are met until such time as the procurement and roll-out of hepatitis vaccinations for janitors can take place.

The City assures residents that it is working hard to resolve the supply chain management issues and will continue to keep resident’s informed of progress. As soon as the City is able to vaccinate awaiting janitors, the local labour programme will re-commence.

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