Gangs Are Pressing R10,000 Ransom Demands Before Cape Town Plumbers and Inspectors Can Tackle Sewage Crises
Extortion has become a grim gatekeeper for repairs in Cape Town. Local government workers are being forced to pay up to R10,000 in protection money before they are allowed to enter certain high-crime districts to fix burst water pipes and overflowing sewers. The city has refused to capitulate to this criminal pressure, but residents in the affected communities continue to bear the brunt as sewage and water leaks persist.
Dr. Zahid Badroodien, Cape Town’s head of water and sanitation, described the situation as a nightly headache. The fear is not only about the smell and health hazards but also about getting crews in to perform essential repairs. Areas labeled as “red zones” have become off-limits to municipal workers due to elevated crime levels, making it impossible to carry out necessary maintenance without endangering staff.
The crisis unfolds alongside ongoing sewage overflows and deteriorating water pressure in informal settlements. Residents report taps running dry for hours, and in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, a recent visit by IOL revealed knee-deep flows of what resembled raw sewage. The air carried a harsh, choking stench, and blocked drains sent filth into homes.
For families like Aphiwe Mhlungu, this reality is intolerable.
“We can’t open our windows because of the smell, and the children can’t even play outside,” the 45-year-old shared. “We’re left living in this filth because no one can come in to help.” He added that some days his family cannot even eat due to the overpowering odor.
Another resident, Sibongile Dlamini, voiced exhaustion with the situation: “We are tired of living like this. We call the city, yet repairs take too long. It’s humiliating to endure this while waiting for help.”
Badroodien acknowledged the plight of residents while noting that extortion, sabotage, and gang activity are increasingly hindering repairs. He recounted reports from workers who are approached with threats: “If you want to fix the sewer pipe, you must pay R10,000 before you can do anything.” Workers and their equipment are also targets, and in places like Manenberg, crews have found themselves caught in crossfire.
Asked whether the city would pay protection money, Badroodien answered firmly: no. Extortion must be reported, after which the city dispatches its own law-enforcement support to assist frontline teams. Nevertheless, he warned that this can cause delays, sometimes forcing crews to pause work and return later, leaving residents without water and sanitation for longer periods. He stressed staff safety as the priority and said teams should not be placed in red zones without appropriate security.
In Makhaza, residents occupy a three-metre sewer servitude, complicating relocation efforts. The human settlements directorate is leading the process to move affected residents, while MMC Carl Pophaim described threats against officials attempting to engage with residents. He noted ongoing negotiations with a taxi association to address relocation logistics and minimize disruption to nearby taxi ranks. The goal is to begin work the following Tuesday and complete relocation within 72 hours so that pipeline repairs can proceed under the water and sanitation directorate’s supervision.
A Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime report on the Western Cape lists extortion as the second-latest major income stream after drugs, highlighting how deeply it has penetrated township life, particularly in Khayelitsha. The report cites the 28s and 27s street gangs as influential players in extorting construction sites and local businesses, often acting through proxies who harvest protection fees.
Beyond extortion, vandalism and deliberate sabotage worsen the water crisis. Badroodien described damaged standpipes, illegal connections that depress pressure, and stolen or broken toilets. Instances range from pipes being damaged so that taxis can access water to the theft of toilet doors and the resale of plastic pipes. He stressed that this is not the work of a single group but a broader community issue that spikes during politically charged periods. He even warned that as elections approach, bulk sewer pipelines could overflow again.
A City of Cape Town report, obtained by IOL, confirms that toilets installed in informal settlements have been vandalized or removed after installation. The September 2025 Water and Sanitation Performance Monitoring Report tracks service delivery, including taps, toilets, and sewerage infrastructure. It notes that in informal settlements, 161 new taps and 1,157 toilets were provided in the first quarter of the current financial year, exceeding targets. However, some of these installations may already be vandalized or removed, meaning that the headline figures overstate current access on the ground.
Western Cape legislature committee chair Benedicta van Minnen underscored that extortion and gangsterism are persistent problems in Cape Town, accounting for a large share of the province’s crime. Police resources are stretched thin, with roughly 8,000 fewer officers than needed. Van Minnen argued for stronger oversight and suggested empowering law enforcement and metro police with additional investigative powers to bolster effectiveness.
Sandra Dickson of STOP COCT cautioned that not all blame lies with criminal elements; while Cape Town’s tap water largely meets safety standards, safety concerns persist elsewhere. The report indicates that only 57.5% of river and vlei water samples meet the minimum E. coli safety standard, below the city’s target of 60%. In Mitchells Plain, which includes the Khayelitsha stormwater system, none of the samples met the E. coli standard, revealing that sewage is being conveyed through stormwater drainage rather than proper sewer lines.
ActionSA has alleged that the city discharged an estimated 27 litres of raw, untreated sewage into coastal waters daily via marine outfalls in Camps Bay, Green Point, and Hout Bay, threatening beaches and marine life. The city contends that only 5% of sewage is discharged untreated into the ocean, with the remaining 95% processed through wastewater treatment works.
As the city grapples with these intertwined issues—extortion, vandalism, and under-resourced policing—residents face ongoing disruption to essential services. The situation demands a coordinated effort among city departments, law enforcement, and community leaders to safeguard workers, restore water and sanitation, and address the broader social and infrastructural challenges fueling this crisis.
