The City of Cape Town says by the end of May, Transport for Cape Town (TCT) would have spent more than 90 percent of its budget intended for the maintenance and cleaning of stormwater infrastructure, channels, canals and rivers.
Staff from TCT’s 20 local road depots across the eight districts also do reactive maintenance as and when residents report blockages, the City said in a statement this week.
“The City prioritises informal settlements where we focus on the formal and open drainage systems. We do more frequent inspections of the infrastructure and increase cleaning operations as far as possible in the run-up to the rainy season. The budget for maintenance and cleaning projects in informal settlements is R11.5 million for the current financial year (2015/16), with expenditure currently standing at R8.4 million.
“Another R1.95 million will be spent this month and, as such, by May 31, TCT would have spent at least 91 percent of this budget,” said Mayco member for transport, Brett Herron.
Budget and expenditure for repair and maintenance work for the past 11 months is as follows:
* The budget for the cleaning of rivers: the removal of aquatic weeds, reeds and other vegetation impeding the flow of water or which has the potential to cause blockages is R22 million for the current financial year. Expenditure stands at R18 million, with another R2.9 million to be spent within this month. As such, by Tuesday May 31, TCT would have spent at least 95 percent of the budget.
* The budget for the cleaning of pipes, culverts and underground culverts is R32.6 million for the current financial year. Expenditure currently stands at R22.6 million with another R8 million to be spent within this month. By May 31, TCT would have spent at least 95 percent of the budget.
* The budget for the maintenance and cleaning of stormwater retention ponds is R8.1 million for the current financial year. Expenditure currently stands at R6 million, with another R1.4 million to be spent this month. By May 31, TCT would have spent at least 91 percent of the budget.
* The budget for the cleaning and maintenance of catch-pits is R21.4 million for the current financial year. Expenditure currently stands at R14.3 million, with another R5.3 million to be spent this month. By May 31, TCT would have spent at least 92 percent of the budget.
* The budget for the cleaning and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure and water sources for the Bellville District is R11.9 million
Expenditure currently stands at R60.8 million, with another R17.6 million to be spent this month. By May 31, the eight districts would have spent at least 93 percent of their budget.
“As part of its maintenance activities, TCT hires specialised river and stormwater network cleaning equipment with long-reach excavators and we also use wheeled loaders to remove rubbish. It is difficult and costly to remove silt and other debris from our underground infrastructure such as the pipes and culverts,” Mr Herron said.